Bluffton and Jay County are an even 5-5 against one another since May of 2015, but likely not for long. The Tigers will face off against the Patriots at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
As a matter of fact, Bluffton put up the most runs they have all season on Tuesday. Their pitcher stepped up to hand Adams Central a 19-0 shutout. The Tigers haven't had any issues with the Flying Jets recently, as the game was their third consecutive victory against them.
Griffin Morgan made a splash while hitting and pitching. He didn't allow a single earned run while striking out 11 over five innings pitched. He has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in five consecutive appearances. He was also stellar in the batter's box, going a perfect 3-for-3 with six RBI and one double. Those six RBI gave him a new career-high.
Xzavier Driscoll
| 05/06/25 vs Adams Central | 3 |
| 05/05/25 @ Churubusco | 2 |
| 04/29/25 vs Southern Wells | 2 |
| 04/21/25 vs Norwell | 2 |
| 04/12/25 vs Taylor | 2 |
In other batting news, Bluffton let Xzavier Driscoll and Abram Gehrett run wild. Driscoll went a perfect 1-for-1 with two stolen bases and three runs, while Gehrett went 1-for-2 with two runs, one double, and one RBI. Those three runs gave Driscoll a new career-high. Zane Betz was another key player, earning two RBI and three runs.
Bluffton hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Adams Central struck out 11 times.
Jay County hadn't beaten South Adams on the road since May 2, 2017 but that history sure didn't bother them on Tuesday. The Patriots were the clear victors by an 11-0 margin over the Starfires. Considering the Patriots' hitters had been struggling lately, the high-scoring outing was a much-needed turnaround.
The result came thanks to Zedrian Vazquez's shutout, as he gave up just a hit and racked up seven Ks. He is becoming a predictor of Jay County's success: when he allows at most two hits the team is 2-1 (and 3-7 when he doesn't).
On the hitting side, Leighton Brown was incredible, getting on base in all five of his plate appearances with four RBI and one run. Gavin Byrum also deserves some recognition as he brought in his first RBI of the season.
Bluffton's record is now 13-6. As for Jay County, their record now sits at 5-8.
Jay County's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Bluffton hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .336. It's a different story for Jay County, though, as they've only averaged .218. Will they be able to contain Bluffton's hitters?
Bluffton skirted past Jay County 5-4 in their previous meeting back in May of 2024. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Tigers since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
