Jumpers nip Jaguars

By TIM HYDEN, CJ Sports Writer
Commonwealth Journal

Somerset May 09, 2008 11:56 pm

— It was Friday Night Lights at the Briar patch when the East Jessamine Jaguars rolled into town to challenge the home standing Briar Jumpers. After a week of rain, the Somerset program was finally able to squeeze in a JV/Varsity double header against a fellow contender for the 12th Region crown. And even though it ended at bedtime, at least the Jumper faithful were able to go to bed happy, having just beaten the Jaguars 4-3.
“We’re not hitting on all cylinders offensively right now,” said Somerset Head Coach Phillip Grundy. “But we’re scrapping and that’s a big positive for us. It feels great to get a big win tonight in the 12th Region. I hope we can build on it and get our confidence back up.”
The win, however, was almost a devastating blow to the Jumpers attempt to gain momentum going into the postseason. A nice pitching duel ended up with both teams trading blows late in the game. A few key hits were all that stood between Somerset’s 2nd straight home win, and a painful lost opportunity.
Jeremy Toohey started on the mound for the Briar Jumpers and pitched five innings of shutout baseball, before leaving the game with the bases loaded.
“I thought Jeremy pitched really well for us tonight,” said Grundy. “I was just frustrated with the offense. We need to get fired up and get some runs on the board early so we don’t force our starters to pitch shutout baseball for us to stay in the game.”
Somerset drew first blood in the bottom of the opening frame. And they did it in the most familiar way: John Cole got an infield hit, stole second, and scored on an Adam Wallen single. But the Jumpers struggled to get any offense going after that.
“We had three straight innings where we got a runner in scoring position with less than two outs and didn’t score,” Grundy lamented. “That was something we were doing well. But now we have to get back to taking advantage of every scoring opportunity we get. It doesn’t do any good to put yourself in a position to succeed if you’re not going to close the deal.”
East Jessamine sophomore pitcher Travis Steward kept the Jumpers off balance with good control and a good mixture of off-speed stuff. But in the fourth Somerset was able to add an unearned run. Senior Kenny Hughes led off with an infield single, stole second, and moved to third on a balk, before scoring on an error trying to throw out Jeremy Toohey as he tried to steal second. The throw went into right center field and Hughes trotted home with the second run.
But the missed scoring opportunities came back to haunt Somerset in the sixth. With just a 2-0 lead Toohey gave up back-to-back singles to seniors Mike Livengood and Kyle Fritz. Toohey then walked Steward to load the base with no one out. Grundy decided that a pitching change was in order and brought in senior Corey Price. The lanky hurler fanned the first two hitters he faced. Then, #8 hitter Dylan Poulin came to the plate. He did not miss his chance to be the hero. He drilled a Price fastball into the right center field gap, and all three Jaguars came scampering home, launching East Jessamine into the lead, 3-2.
Somerset answered back. With one out Kenny Hughes launched a high drive to center field which just cleared the glove of center fielder Jake Adams. The powerful senior showed that a big man can fly as he tore into third base with the possible game tying run. But after an infield ground out, Hughes was still lat third with two outs. Would another scoring opportunity pass unfulfilled?
Then freshman J.P. Henderlight stepped up for his first at-bat of the game. He had started in center field but was replaced by a designated hitter when the Jumpers were on offense. So, one could understand if the promising young outfielder failed to cash in. But Henderlight wanted to prove that he could swing a bat too. He drilled a line drive single back up the middle, too hot for the pitcher to react to. Kenny Hughes trotted home once again, and they were all tied going to the seventh.
After holding East Jessamine scoreless in the top of the seventh, the Jumpers pounced on the Jaguars when their chance came. Freshman Erik Manning led off and battled Steward for eight or nine pitches before drilling a double off the left field fence.
“Those were huge at bats by Manning and Henderlight,” said Grundy. “It’s great to see these freshman step up in big situations like this. It’s going to do so much for their confidence.”
John Cole followed with another infield single. East Jessamine intentionally walked Chase Hall to load the base with no outs. Then up stepped Somerset’s RBI machine Adam Wallen. Facing a drawn in infield, Wallen calmly drilled a line drive into left field for the game winner. Somerset 4, East Jessamine 3.
The win runs Somerset’s record to 15-11 going into a double header on Saturday. With the rescheduling of several games this week, Saturday’s schedule had been up in the air. But now Somerset will host Southwestern at 10 a.m., and Harrison County at noon. The Senior Night festivities scheduled for last week are now scheduled for Monday evening as the Jumpers host Cumberland County.
One extra note from the game: junior starting pitcher Jeremy Toohey was hit by a pitch late in the game. He experienced stiffness after the game and was taken for an x-ray.
“Jeremy is the best defensive outfielder in the region,” said Grundy. “Hopefully this is just a bruise because we can’t afford to lose him. We think he’ll be ok, but we’ve been a little snake bit with injuries this year.”

EJ 000 003 0 — 3 6 1
SHS 100 101 1 — 4 10 0

East Jessamine —Steward 6+IP, 3ER, 4R, 10H, 6K, 2BB, 1HBP, 1BLK
2B—Poulin. RBI—Poulin 3

Somerset — Toohey 5+IP, 3ER, 3R, 4H, 1K, 3BB, 1HBP
Price 2IP, 0ER, 0R, 2H, 3K, 0BB
2B—E. Manning. 3B—Hughes. SB—Cole, E. Manning, Hughes. RBI—Wallen 2, Henderlight.

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