Fort blanks 'Hawks

FORT RECOVERY — The Blackhawks’ first batter of the game crushed a double well over Gabe Riegle’s head in center field.
It was their only hit of the game.
Fort Recovery pitchers Elijah Kahlig and Shane Pottkotter combined to strike out 14 batters as they tossed a one-hitter to give the Indians their first win of the season, 8-0 over Mississinawa Valley.
The Indians dropped their first six games during last year’s two-win season and had lost their first two this year.
“It feels great,” said Tribe shortstop Chad Schroer of the victory. “It was a tough season last year. …
“It feels like we’re going to do well this year.
“We’ve improved in a lot of spots.”
After giving up the leadoff double to Trent Gilbert, Kahlig took care of the next five outs on his own. He struck out Carson Stump for the first out of the game, got Dalton Stump on a ground ball back to the mound and then added three more strikeouts in a row.
The sophomore allowed two base runners on a walk and an error in the third inning, but escaped the threat and sat down the final five batters he faced. He finished with eight strikeouts in four innings of work before turning the ball over to Pottkotter.
“It was a 3-0 count and I had to give him something good,” said Kahlig of the opening hit. “I threw it high and he just got a hold of it.
“I just had to calm down and relax and just keep pitching,” he added, noting that getting ahead in the count was a big key. “They had a hard time hitting the curveball.”
Pottkotter was impressive as well, striking out two batters in each of his three innings of work. He did not allow a base runner as he and Kahlig combined to retire the final 14 batters in a row.
They struck out Carson Stump, Mississinawa Valley’s No. 2 hitter, and clean-up batter Steven Armstrong three times apiece.
“I thought our pitching was outstanding,” said FRHS coach Jerry Kaup. “I thought our starting pitching was great. Our relief pitching came in and, Shane, you can’t ask for a better job than that.”
“They stayed ahead of the hitters really well. And once you stay ahead of the hitters, then you can make that hitter hit your pitch.
“I thought Elijah changed speeds really well. And Shane did a really nice job with his breaking ball today. That was the big key.”
While Kahlig and Pottkotter made life easy on the FRHS defense, the offense broke the game open in the fourth inning.
Kent Retz and Alex Thien started the rally with back-to-back one-out singles. Retz scored when Riegle reached base on an error, and then Schroer took advantage with a two-run single to right field.
After a couple of walks, Hayden Pottkotter pushed Schroer across the plate with a sacrifice fly to right field for a 5-0 lead.
The Indians added three more runs in the fifth inning on RBI walks from Thien, Schroer and Collin O’Dell.
Schroer was on base three times in the game as he went 1-for-2 with three RBIs and a pair of runs. Kent Retz added two hits and two runs.
“This is his third year of experience, and … he needs to be consistent,” said Kaup of Schroer, the Tribe’s leadoff hitter. “I’m going to be expecting that every game. I need him to be that kind of a mature, consistent player for this team to be successful. And I think Chad is ready for that success.”
“(Retz) actually was the second-leading hitter last year as a freshman. He definitely is an athlete … He can hit.”
Hayden Pottkotter added two RBIs, and Jacob Muhlenkamp had a pair of hits.
Carson Stump took the loss for the Blackhawks, giving up five runs — four earned — on five hits and a walk. Mason Rourk allowed three runs on two hits and five walks in an inning of relief.

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