Beau Stoppenhagen took as many bases than he allowed Thursday night as the Heritage leadoff hitter threw a five-inning one-hitter to shut out the Adams Central Jets, with the Patriots winning 10-0.
Stoppenhagen took first base twice on a pair of walks and was hit by a pitch from his spot atop the home batting order and he only allowed a single, a walk and a hit by pitch in his five innings of work as the pitcher of record for the winning Patriots.
Jacob Miller’s infield single to second to lead off the third was the only hit for AC on the night.
The story of the game, despite the one-hitter by Stoppenhagen, was the running game by the Patriots, who stole a remarkable eleven bases against the Jets’ batteries.
Garrett Oliver broke open the game in the second with a double to left to make it 3-0.
The Patriots then strung together four straight hits with two outs, culminating with a double by Jaxon Feasby to take the advantage to 6-0.
The home team put the game away by drawing four straight walks in the fifth, then walking it off on a hit by Max Mirelez to trigger the run rule.
Eli Rauner and Feasby were both credited with three stolen bases, while Zeb Tigulis stole two. Rauner led the team in hits with three, including a double.
Stoppenhagen is now 4-0 for Heritage after throwing 25 innings this year with an ERA of 1.68.
The ACAC race is squarely a race of the Patriots with Jay County and Heritage the only two unbeaten teams left in the conference.
Heritage will play at Columbia City Saturday morning. The next conference game for the Patriots will be Tuesday at Bluffton.
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