Ruble ruins comeback

The Patriots were expecting to get a fight from the reigning regional winner, but they were still able to put 10 runs on the board through the first three innings.

When the Patriots’ bats faltered over the final three innings, the defense stepped up to do just enough to get the job done.

The Jay County High School softball team survived a late-game scare from the Norwell Knights on Friday as an unassisted double play by shortstop Brenna Ruble ended that game in the Patriots’ favor 11-8.

“It feels pretty good to run our record to 7-0,” said JCHS coach Doug Arbuckle. “That’s a good ball team over there and we told the girls they wouldn’t quit, no matter what the score was. … The girls responded exceptionally well in those first three innings when they put up 10 runs, but then for some reason we coasted a bit. … We’ve got to keep our foot on the pedal. Made it a little closer than what we thought it needed to be, but we’ll take the win anyway we can.”

Jay County (7-0) held a 10-4 lead heading into the fourth inning. They pushed across one more run on a single by Hallie Schwieterman before the bats died down.

In the top halves of the fifth and sixth inning, Norwell (3-1) was able to push the Patriots with a pair of runs on four hits and two errors.

With a five-run advantage, Mallory Winner just needed to secure three outs to send the Knights packing, but the visitors didn’t give up.

Leah Werling led off the inning with a home run that smacked off the scoreboard in center field. Abby Wanger then hit a chopper down the third base line that Chloe Brown managed to spear before sending the ball to Jozey Shimp for the first out.

Mia Kurtz followed with a single to right field that got past a diving Schiweterman, allowing her to make it around to third base. Kurtz scored on Teagan Lesley’s single through the left side to make it an 11-8 ball game.

Photo Gallery

JC softball vs. Norwell (4/18/2025)

Two more singles followed on a blooper in shallow right field and an infield single to Ruble at shortstop to load the bases with only one out.

With the winning run at the plate, Winner — she earned the win after pitching all seven innings — worked a 1-2 count on Makayla Young. The NHS junior rocketed the ball in the air to the left side, but Ruble leapt up and brought it down to take away an extrabase hit. Ruble turned to find Kara Brown off second base, thinking the ball would get through, and tagged her out as she attempted to slide back into the bag, ending the game.

“I don’t even know, I just jumped, seen the ball and thought, ‘Oh my God, I caught it! Where’s she at?’” Ruble said. “I turned around and tagged her. Half the time I don’t even know what I’m doing, my adrenaline just takes over.”

Ruble was also a key piece in the team’s offense. The freshman leadoff hitter went 2-for-3 on the day with a pair of infield singles and a walk. On both hits, she was able to draw an error, allowing her to make her way to second base without any help.

Ruble scored all three times she reached base, the first time on a Morgan Missicano triple, and the next two on singles by Jaeylnn Lykins. (Missicano scored all three times she reached base as well, while Lykins drove in a season-high five runs.)

“(Lykins) was really giving us confidence and pepping us up,” Ruble said. “She’s like, ‘If you get on, just know I’m there to pick you guys up and (get you in).’ … When we’re on our ‘A’ game, it’s hard to keep us (three) from getting hits.”

Outside of the top three in the order, Winner slashed a pair of singles and her courtesy runner, Zoe Romine, scored each time Schwieterman added a run in the third inning and both Ava Bice and Chloe Brown scored a run and drove one in.

The Patriots only got two runs from Ruble and Missicano in the first inning, got one from Chloe Brown along with the pair in the second.

Both teams had large third innings, as Norwell nearly hit through the order en route to three runs, while all nine Patriots saw the plate to total five.

The Knights didn’t have much trouble getting their offense started, as they had 16 hits, but scoring the runs proved to be a challenge as 10 runners were left stranded. Werling led the offense with three hits including the home run, two RBIs and one run. Lesley also had three hits and a run, while driving only one in.

“I think it’s just a big confidence booster for (the girls) all the way around,” said Arbuckle. “We can win ball games in so many different ways. We can eke one out if we need to or play that tight game if we need to and still get that win and come out ahead.

“Just super proud of the girls and the way they’ve responded. Whatever the circumstance is, they seem to be handling it and attacking.”