DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
Single runs in the fourth and fifth inning gave the Adams Central Jets an important ACAC victory in Portland Thursday against Jay County.
The contest, which ended 3-2, was a story of a frustrated Jets team that had no problem collecting hits but could not bring baserunners in.
It was Adams Central who got on board first in the opening inning against JC starter Jackson Edwards, who issued a one-out walk to Ryan Tester.Â
Ryan Black singled to left to move Tester into scoring position and Trevor Currie drove him in with a base hit to right. Currie later stole second to put runners on second and third, but Edwards got the next two batters to pop up and escape any further damage.
Edwards got his revenge on Tester, however, reaching on an error by the second baseman. Cade Van De Weg retired the next two batters, but the Jets let their ace lefty down with a string of errors that allowed Josh Dowlen to score on a little league home run.
Van De Weg settled down from there, allowing just four hits in the following six innings, striking out seven to pick up the win on just 88 pitches.Â
Another one-out walk was the undoing of Edwards in the fourth, as Dakota Perry reached and came around to score on a bad relay throw after Jack Hamilton’s base hit, knotting the game at two runs apiece.
Adams Central knocked Edwards out of the game with base hits by Ryan Black and Currie to lead off the fifth and the Pats went to Sam Myers, who set down the next three batters in order, but the Jets had the lead and ran with it.
Van De Weg worked around a couple walks in the final two innings to secure the win and push the Jets to a 10-3 record as they prepare for a four-game week next week with important conference games against Bluffton and Heritage on both ends of a rivalry game with Norwell Wednesday.
Black finished the game 3 for 4, while Currie and Hamilton had two hits each. Dakota Perry was 2 for 2.