Jay softball begins to slip with pair of losses

MONROE  and ROCKFORD, Ohio — The Patriots got off to a hot start of the season, but the past eight days have proven to be quite tumultuous.

The Jay County High School softball team dropped a pair of games on Thursday and Friday, losing to the Adams Central Jets 14-13 and the Parkway Panthers 6-2.

The Patriots (5-3, 0-1 Allen County Athletic Conference) couldn’t quiet the bats of Adams Central (6-4, 2-1 ACAC) as they dropped their first conference game of the season. The Jets scored two or more runs in all but the first inning.

The Patriots pushed four runs across the plate in the fourth inning and nine in the fifth to momentarily take a 13-7 lead. Carlie Trinidad came in to relieve starter Mallory Winner in the bottom of the fifth and gave up five runs on four singles and two doubles. Trinidad surrendered the lead in the sixth after two singles and a triple.

Friday’s game against the Panthers (14-2) was decided in the fifth inning. With the game tied 1-1, Parkway scored five runs off of Trinidad on three doubles and two singles.

Jay County tried to respond in the top of the sixth with Riah Champ scoring on a passed ball, but Jozey Shimp ran into an out at home plate trying to do the same to end the game.

Trinidad suffered the loss in both games to fall to 1-2 in the circle on the season.

Vazquez rolls

MONROE — Zedrian Vazquez tossed four scoreless innings to put the Jay County baseball team in position for a 7-1 victory over the Adams Central Jets on Thursday.

The Patriots (7-5, 2-0 ACAC) kept their conference champion hopes alive as their win kept them undefeated in ACAC play and extended their winning streak to seven games.

Vazquez started the game for JCHS and earned the win, only giving up one run on three hits and three walks. Aiden Phillips threw three innings of relief while only allowing three players to reach base.

A four-run fifth inning acted as the difference-maker in the game. Sam Myers and Ryne Goldsworthy both hit two-RBI singles in the inning. Myers ended up with four RBIs, two hits and a run scored.

The only run for Adams Central (8-4, 1-1 ACAC) came in the bottom of the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by Trevor Currie.

DeRome leads

HARTFORD CITY — The Jay County boys golf team took down the Blackford Bruins 188-209 on Thursday at Blackford Golf Club.

Caleb DeRome earned match-medalist honors by shooting a 44 for t he Patriots.

As has been the case in most matches for Jay County (4-1), Gage Sims put up the second-best score of 46 strokes.

Cody DeHoff and Luke Fugiett tied with a nine-hole score of 49 strokes to round out the team’s score. 

This was Fugiett’s second time contributing to the team score this season — the first time coming on April 19 against Northeastern.

Liam Garringer’s 50 did not contribute to the team’s final score.