Back on track

The Patriots lost a pair of extra innings contests to the top team in Class 2A over the weekend.

They had a chance to bounce back against a winless team to start the week. An early deficit gave the Patriots a scare, but then their bats came alive in the third inning and it was downhill from there for the Bearcats.

The Jay County High School baseball team picked its offensive output up in the third inning against Muncie Central on Monday, and the game snowballed from there to give the Patriots a 11-1 victory after only five innings.

“We got a slow start and I almost felt we were a little lethargic,” JCHS coach Todd Farr said. “It took us a little to get going, but when we got going, good things happened. It’s amazing what can happen when you put the ball in play.”

The Patriots (10-9) managed two hits in the first two innings, but couldn’t get any runners into scoring position.

Jay County cracked the scoring column in the third inning. Cody Rowles led off by reaching second base on an error by MCHS left fielder Isaiah Miller, with Jackson Edwards following with a walk.

A second error by Aaron Coggeshall at second base let Sam Myers reach base and Rowles score. Parker Nichols recorded the only hit of the inning as he singled down the third baseline to push Edwards across the plate.

Myers scored during Ryne Goldsworthy’s at bat as Nichols stole second, allowing Myers to take home plate on the throw. Nichols took third base on the same play as shortstop Justus Allen threw the ball away when trying to get Myers out at home.

Allen committed another error on a ground ball hit by Goldsworthy, but Nichols would have scored on the play anyway. The inning finally ended as Logan Campbell struck out Joe Geesaman and Garrett Bennett.

“It’s always good to capitalize on their errors,” Nichols said. “Come sectional time, there’s not going to be so many errors, so if we capitalize on what they give us, we’ll have a better chance to win.”

The offensive onslaught continued in the fourth inning, as Jay County scored five more runs on the Bearcats (0-11).

Three of those runs came on a bases-loaded single by Sam Myers that Miller mishandled in left field. Myers later scored on a single by Geesaman.

The final run came from Nichols, who scored off of an error by catcher Gage Emberton as he overthrew third base as Nichols tried to swipe the bag.

Jay County entered the bottom of the fifth inning only two runs away from the mercy rule. It didn’t take long as the first two batters reached base on a hit-by-pitch and a walk. A wild pitch put both runners in scoring position for Edwards, who laced a two-RBI single down the right field line to end the game.

“That’s where we’re at,” Farr said. “We aren’t good enough to goof around and allow them to try and make a comeback, so the guys did a really good job of staying focused and getting the job done.”

The Bearcats’ only run came in the second inning. Allen drew a walk from freshman pitcher Geesaman and stole second base. He then scored on the following single by Charlie Graham.

Grant Wendel earned the win for Jay County by throwing 1 2/3 innings in relief.

Last year, Wendel’s only win came against Muncie Central in a complete game in which he gave up just one hit. This year, Wendel earned a win on April 19 against Shenandoah to go along with Monday’s victory.

Wended ended with zero runs allowed despite surrendering four walks and one hit.

“I just tried to keep my confidence up,” Wendel said. “Last year, coming into it I had all the confidence in the entire world.”

Strong defense behind Wendel helped that confidence grow.

With two outs and runners on first and second in the fourth inning, Wendel gave up a single to Emberton. Kye Hiatt broke for home as Rowles fielded the ball. An accurate throw to Schemenaur caught Hiatt dead in his tracks for the out to end the inning and prevent the run from scoring.

“I saw the kid turn three as the ball was coming in and it was on a laser,” Wendel said. “Cody does what he does. He’s been doing it all season and he’s thrown quite a few kids out now. He’s just outstanding in the outfield.”