Fort falters in seventh

FORT RECOVERY — After a long lightning delay, the Indians erased a one-run deficit. But in the final frame, they couldn’t slow a storm of Blackhawk runs.
Visiting Mississinawa Valley scored five times in the top of the frame and then fought off a rally attempt by Fort Recovery for an 8-4 victory.
“We gave away three runs early and kept them in the game,” said FRHS coach Marie Osterholt, whose team has dropped to 2-2 after winning back-to-back games to open the season. “And then that last inning we threw the ball around, didn’t throw it to the right place. Against any team you can’t throw the ball around.”
The Blackhawks’ big final inning started with Alysha Thompson pinch hitting for No. 9 hitter Cydney Adams. She ripped a single to left field, and MVHS (1-1) never slowed down as leadoff hitter Nicole Scholl followed with her third single of the game.
The next play proved to be the biggest, as Stephanie Scholl put down a bunt to try to advance the runners. Fort Recovery catcher Jackie Fullenkamp fielded the ball and tried to cut down Thompson at third, but instead the throw skipped into left field allowing Thompson to score and the Scholl sisters to advance to second and third base respectively.
Heather Dirksen and Karli Adkins added back-to-back hits for Mississinawa Valley, and Mackenzie Dirmeyer and Victoria Humphries each drove in runs with ground outs to push the lead to 8-3.
“She’s a freshman, and I know she can hit,” said MVHS coach Jeff Adams of the rally-starter from Thompson. “I just took a chance, and it paid off. It really set a spark under the team. This is a big win for these girls.”
Nicole Scholl powered the win, which was the Blackhawks’ first against Fort Recovery, going 3-for-4 with three stolen bases and a pair of runs. Adkins added a double and a pair of RBIs.
Beca Tobe suffered the loss for the Indians, who committed four errors Friday after finishing with eight in a 15-0 loss Thursday to Ansonia. She gave up eight runs — five earned — on six hits and three walks while striking out five.
“I thought Beca pitched a nice game,” said Osterholt. “I thought she did a real nice job. They had a couple hits, but for the most part I thought she kept their hitters pretty well at bay.
“The defense was a lot better tonight than it was the other night. We’re working on it. It’s early.”
Fort Recovery took the lead early after Tobe struck out two batters in the first inning as she sat down the Blackhawks in order. The Tribe scored twice in the bottom of the frame thanks to back-to-back doubles from Taylor Guggenbiller and Fullenkamp.
However, Mississinawa Valley got on the board with an unearned run in the second inning and then scored twice in the third to take the lead before consecutive rain delays halted the game for more than an hour.
Maleia Fullenkamp singled to right field and scored on an RBI ground out from Melissa Lochtefeld to tie the game in the fourth inning, but the Indians never reclaimed the lead.
The Tribe had a chance to rally in its final at bat as Lochtefeld and Janelle Schwieterman reached base to leadoff the bottom of the seventh inning, but Mississinawa Valley pitcher Kylie Welch came up with a couple of strikeouts as she escaped the threat.
“There was a lot of pressure on her, but she’s a senior pitcher,” said Adams of Welch. “She’s been through this before. … Her composure was good. She doesn’t get rattled.”
Welch got the win as all four runs against her were unearned. She struck out six batters and walked four.
Guggenbiller went 2-for-4 with a double, a run and an RBI to lead the Tribe offense. Jackie Fullenkamp had a hit and an RBI, and Maleia Fullenkamp finished with a hit and a run.
Schwieterman, who made a couple of nice back-handed defensive plays at shortstop while also tracking down a fly ball in left field, added a single and a run.
“Janelle did a terrific job at short,” said Osterholt. “She made some fantastic plays and got some big outs for us.”[[In-content Ad]]