Season starts smooth

MARION — The Patriots were itching to play another team.

With someone else on the other side of the field, they got to work quickly as an eight-spot in the first inning put the Patriots in the drivers seat.

Jay County High School’s softball team batted around the order three times as it claimed the season opener 20-0 over the Marion Giants in five innings on Thursday.

“The thing we tell the girls all the time is ‘Get off the bus ready to play,’” JCHS coach Doug Arbuckle said. “I think we did that and put up that eight spot in the first inning.

“Then we can sit back and relax a little bit and don’t have to press so much. … It’s just really a good feeling to get out and play.”

While the first game of the season can often bring nerves, Jay County (1-0) didn’t let it show as they dominated on both sides of the ball.

Before the Giants (0-1) even had the opportunity to step into the batters box, Jay County put up eight runs. Morgan Missicano and Brenna Ruble led off with back-to-back singles, followed by a lineout by Jaeylinn Lykins to right field. The next five batters reached base for the Patriots before Aly Earnest recorded her first strikeout and second total out of the game. Missicano, who finished the day 5-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBIs, followed with another single to drive in a run before Ruble cleared the bases on an error by right fielder Desiray Alexander. The inning finally ended with a Lykins groundout to Earnest.

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Jay County softball at Marion (4/3/2025)

“We found good pitches we knew we could hit and just waited for them,” Missicano said. “I’m focusing on making contact. I’m not trying to hit it too far and get over my head.”

Other runs in the first inning were driven in by Jozey Shimp, Mallory Winner, Hallie Schwieterman and Ava Bice.

The Patriots only had one hit in the second inning without any runs, but batted around in both the third and fourth. JCHS put up seven runs in the third on six hits and three errors and scored five in the fourth inning on four hits and one error.

Missicano led the game with five singles, while Winner and Schwieterman had the only doubles of the game. Schwieterman tied with Missicano for the most runs scored at three and Lykins with three RBIs to lead the game.

While the Giants struggled to get the Patriots out, Winner and Carley Trinidad shut them down with ease.

Winner tossed the first three innings, only giving up a walk to Gracie Dixon in the first and a single back up the middle by Adisyn Foustnight in the third. Six of the nine outs she recorded came via strikeout. The three batters that put the ball in play on Winner were late, pushing the ball to Shimp at first to get the out unassisted.

Trinidad kept up the strong work in the final two frames. She gave up a hit to Alexander, but struck out two batters per inning, including Mia Weaver, who went down looking to end the game.

“We just work hard,” Trinidad said. “My curve rise (worked really well) and it was really nice to have the defense back me up.”

With only five of the 15 outs coming from balls put in play —  one of which was a pop out to the catcher, Lykins, in foul territory — Jay County played a clean defensive game with no errors.

Almost all of the Patriots found a way to contribute to the win, either on the defensive or offensive side of the ball. With six freshmen, three of which started the game, the stomping of the Giants acted as a good introduction to the season.

“It was good to play when your girls have been practicing really hard and itching to just get out and play against somebody else and not intrasquad scrimmage,” said JCHS coach Doug Arbuckle. “So, it’s just a good feeling to get rid of some of the nerves and jitters.”