Hines home run gave JC walk-off win

Twenty-five years ago this week, a senior’s home run finished off a rally.

The April 16, 1998, edition of The Commercial Review featured a story about the Jay County High School softball team’s 9-8, comeback win over visiting Bellmont.

The Patriots trailed 8-3 going into the bottom of the seventh inning, but fought their way back. The first six batters combined to bring home three runs with two runners remaining on base and one out.

Then April Hines stepped to the plate.

The senior shortstop belted a three-run home run to give JCHS the walk-off win. It finished off a 2-for-5 day for Hines in which she drove in three runs, scored twice and walked once.

The late rally saved a victory after the Patriots got off to a slow start.

“They just weren’t ready to play,” said JCHS coach Mike Schmidt. “They need to get that killer instinct.”

Those comments stemmed from the first six innings as a lack of patience at the plate and four errors helped bury the Patriots in their five-run deficit.

“We really are a better team than that,” said Schmidt. “We’ll get it together.”

Jay County did just that in the seventh inning when Kendra Denton, who had smacked a solo home run in the third inning, led off with a walk. Michelle Brewster reached base on an error and Jenny Cook notched an RBI single, getting the Patriots started on the way to setting up the Hines heroics.

Six players recorded at least one hit for JCHS, with three — Lori Schoenlein, Jani Mahon and Hines — finishing with two hits apiece.

Freshman Erin Smith got her first career win. Only half of the eight runs against her were earned as she went the distance.

“I think she’s doing a good job,” said Schmidt.