Fort clobbers the Blackhawks (04/05/04)

FORT RECOVERY — So, just how high does this new scoreboard go?

The Fort Recovery softball team spent Saturday answering that question in a couple of trouncings of the Mississinawa Valley Blackhawks. Senior Julie Smith and freshman Tiff Gaerke combined for a no-hitter in a 34-0 game-two win, and the Tribe also rolled to a shutout victory 15-0 in the first contest despite a makeshift lineup.

With players running between the ACTs, the softball games and a band trip to Florida, 18 different Indians took the field as they improved to 2-1 on the season.

“It was good for them to have a relaxed game and just go out on the field and play some ball,” said Fort Recovery coach Marie Osterholt. “This was only the second time we’ve been out on the field.”

“Even all the (junior varsity) players who were here got to play. They haven’t played a game yet, so that was good.”

Fort Recovery simply owned the second game offensively, and Smith and Gaerke each pitched out a jam to keep the Blackhawks scoreless on the day as they united for the no-no.

Gaerke hit the first batter in the top fifth inning with a pitch, and she nearly came around to score after advancing to third on a fielder’s choice. However, when the runner tried to score on a wild pitch junior catcher Brenda Rindler ran down the loose ball and flipped it back to Gaerke, who made the tag to preserve the double shutout.

She then struck out Brittany Mestemaker to finish off the no-hitter and the double-header sweep.

Smith did her part earlier after getting into trouble by issuing three straight walks to open the second inning. She bounced back by striking out Leighia Hamphire and Kristy Moneysmith and getting Mestemaker to ground out to Krystal Rammel at third base.

Smith got the win with four strikeouts and five walks in two innings. Gaerke had four strikeouts in three innings in her first varsity action.

“All three (pitchers) did well,” said Fort Recovery coach Marie Osterholt, also noting game-one starter Alyssa Tobe. Tobe and Smith teamed for a two-hit shutout in the first game. “They threw strikes. They threw hard. They moved the ball around the plate. They all did a good job.”

The Indians’ offense had no trouble putting runs on the board, scoring 11 times in the second inning and 14 in the fourth in game two.

Gaerke also showed her hitting prowess, smashing the ball in each of her three at bats on the day to go 3-for-3 with a triple, two runs and two RBIs. Smith also helped the cause, finishing 3-for-4 with four RBIs, three runs and a stolen base.

They were overshadowed at the plate only by their battery mate, who bashed a three-run, inside-the-park home run to dead center field in the fourth inning. Rindler went 2-for-2 overall with three walks, six RBIs, five runs and a stolen base.

Lisa Grisez had just one hit in six at bats, but reached base twice on errors and twice by way of the fielder’s choice. She scored five times and added three RBIs and a pair of steals.

The Tribe scored fewer than half as many runs in the first game, but still ended the game by way of the slaughter rule. They broke the game wide open in the third inning with nine runs to build a 12-0 lead on the way to the 15-0 victory.

Smith was the top hitter in that destruction, going 3-for-4 with a couple of RBIs. Grisez was 2-for-3 with two runs, two stolen bases and an RBI, and Joscie Kaup went 1-for-2 with a double, two runs and three RBIs.

Ciera Rammel scored three runs and stole two bases, while Renee Evers had a pair of runs and three steals. Kelsie Will and Tiera Judy also had two runs each.

Tobe got the win in game one. She allowed one hit and one walk while striking out four batters in three innings.

Smith also gave up one hit and recorded five of her six outs on strikeouts.

Christina Shafer and Virginia Keagy had the only hits on the day for Mississinawa Valley.

Roni Carr took the first defeat, and Kristy Moneysmith was the losing pitcher in game two.

The Blackhawk pitchers hurt themselves by issuing 28 walks on the day. However, they were not helped much when the ball was put in play as a host of errors allowed 23 unearned runs.

Fort loses opener

The Fort Recovery softball team lost its opening game of the season Friday night by a 7-2 score to the Russia Raiders.

The teams played scoreless ball through the first four innings. The Tribe scored twice in the fifth, but Russia put five runs on the board in the same frame.

The Raiders added two more in the sixth as they took the win.

Alyssa Tobe was the losing pitcher, allowing seven unearned runs on four hits in 6 1/3 innings. She struck out seven and walked four.

Julie Smith tossed two-thirds of an inning of scoreless relief.

Lisa Grisez finished 2-for-4 with a couple of steals and an RBI.

Krystal Rammel doubled home a run, and Joscie Kaup and Renee Evers had the only other hits for Fort Recovery.

Ciera Rammel and Megan Wenning each scored one run.[[In-content Ad]]