Patriots Hold On, Top East 4-3

Jefferson County vs Morristown East, March 17, 2014
Staff Photo by Mike Stanley, Jefferson County Post Sports

The story of Jefferson County’s young baseball season so far has been, jump out to an early lead and hold on at the end to get a win. The Patriots have been able to do just that in three of their last four ball games. Monday night was no different, as the Patriots held a 4-0 lead for much of the contest, but an unbelievable play by Trevor Whitley was needed to hold on. Just moments before, Whitley would not make a seemingly routine play, but with two outs in the bottom of the seventh with runners on first and second, Whitley would come through in a big way. A hard ground ball was hit to the left side, Whitley moving to his right from his shortstop position would make a diving stop and fire it home. Jonathan Royster would make the tag to end the game on what would have been the game tying run.

In the first inning Jefferson County’s first two batters would reach by errors. Silver Munguia would then double to right centerfield and the Pats were on the board at 1-0. Basketball standout, Kyle Briggs, in his first baseball game of the season, would then single to knock in another and Jefferson County led 2-0 after the top of the first. The Hurricanes would get a leadoff single, but pitcher Logan Hayes would fan the next three and Jefferson County led 2-0 after one. Jefferson County would score two more on a Malik Kyle double in the second and now led 4-0 heading into the bottom half of the second. Logan Hayes would retire 13 of the next 15 batters going into the bottom of the sixth inning. Two doubles and two singles for Morristown East in the bottom of the sixth would score three runs to make it 4-3 heading into the last inning of play. The magnificent play from Whitley would end the Hurricanes run and Jefferson County held on 4-3.

When we asked Head Coach Gaines Cox if this was a growing step for this young team, Gaines said, “Well, we hope it is. We were fortunate enough to score early and hold on there at the end.” He added “ We need to continue to play defense like we did tonight and get a little more consistent at the plate.”

Logan Hayes would pitch a complete game compiling 10 strikeouts, while walking just one. He also threw 67 strikes to only 25 balls in his 92 pitches. Coach Cox added “Hayes did a really good job, we asked him if he wanted to go back out after the sixth and he didn’t hesitate. I was proud of him for wanting to go back out there. Showed character after the mishap there with two outs, to make another pitch that Trevor Whitley made a great play there at the end.”