Wiseman shuts out Musketeers

DELPHOS – Josh Wiseman fired a two hit shutout on Wednesday night as his Jefferson Wildcats defeated Fort Jennings 8-0 in non-league action.

Wiseman surrendered a walk in the first inning to Evan Hoersten but worked himself through the first with no damage done thanks to catcher Jacob Simmons who nabbed the Musketeer runner attempting to steal second base before Wiseman struck out Zach Schulte to end the frame.

A night after being held to just a pair of runs in a loss to Paulding the Wildcat bats nearly matched the temperature outside as Jacob Simmons opened the bottom of the first with a triple. Singles by Braylon Scalf and Colin Bailey led the offense to a 3-0 advantage heading into the top of the second.

Fort Jennings opened their second at bat with a one out walk and a single by Eli Brown but found a disastrous ending to their rally as a runner was picked off at third and the next hitter Owen Dube struck out to bring the frame to a close.

Jefferson pushed across their fourth run in the third inning on a single by Wiseman himself that followed a pitching change for the Musketeers to freshman Carson Gilchriest. Pitching in his first career appearance Gilchriest recorded his first and second career strikeouts to end the inning with a 4-0 Wildcat lead.

Though the visitors threatened again with a pair of runners in the fourth they were held in check by Wiseman into the seventh inning and kept off of the base paths.

Tanner Vorhees led off the botton of the fourth with his third double of the season and quickly raced home to run the lead to 5-0 thanks to a sacrifice bunt by teammate Cody Bailey. Moments after Jacob Simmons reached on a catchers interference call he was brought around the bases on a single by Braylon Scalf for a 6-0 advantage on the home side of the scoreboard.

A run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Jackson Ream and a steal of home by Simmons gave the Wildcats their final two runs over their last two at bats.

Fort Jennings in their final at bat reached Zach Schulte on an error but saw him erased on a pick off play just moments before a triple from Aidan Grothouse gave the visitors their second and final hit of the contest ahead of a strikeout that ended the evening by pinch hitter Jacob Cruz.

Jefferson (8-10) travels to Middle Point Ballpark on Thursday evening for a 5:00 P.M. NWC battle with state ranked Lincolnview while Fort Jennings (1-13) treks down Route 66 for a Saturday afternoon non-league tilt with New Knoxville.

Josh Wiseman improves to 2-3 on the season as he allowed a pair of hits while striking out seven and walking three. Evan Hoersten falls to 0-3 this year while allowing four runs on three hits and striking out four with one walk.