July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Fort overcomes odds to reach title game (05/22/08)
FRHS baseball
COLDWATER, Ohio - Missing two of the best players on the team, the odds were stacked against Fort Recovery High School from the start.
Trailing 4-2 with just two innings to play, a comeback was unlikely. And still down one with two outs in the seventh inning, its fate seemed sealed.
But at tournament time the Indians are never an easy out.
FRHS scored a pair of two-out runs in the top of the seventh inning Wednesday, rallying for a 5-4 Division IV district semifinal baseball victory over the Crestview Knights at Coldwater.
After Crestview (15-9) retired the first two batters of the seventh inning, Derek Koesters drew his fourth walk of the game to keep the Tribe alive. Nathan Keller, the No. 9 hitter with a .171 average and just one extra-base hit this season, crushed a pitch to right-center field for an RBI triple.
That set the stage for Curt Heitkamp, who executed a difficult call from coach Shane McKibben. The senior put down a perfect bunt between pitcher Greg Osborn and first basemen Kyle Balliet, beating it out to first base to allow Keller to score and put the Indians (11-10) in the lead for the first time in the game.
Sophomore starter Greg Kahlig gave up three hits in the bottom of the seventh, but still improved his career tournament record to 5-0.
Heitkamp threw out Osborn trying to steal second base, and Kahlig struck out Jordan Gibson for the second out. After a passed ball advanced runners to second and third, Kahlig intentionally walked Tony Springer and then struck out Ian Zollars to finish the game.
Frank Thien and Heitkamp each had a single, a run and an RBI. Keller scored after his RBI triple, and Cody Fiely had a hit and a run.
The Indians were playing without seniors Bobby Rammel and Clint Tobe - both four-year starters and the No. 2 and 3 hitters on the team - because of a violation of team rules.
Kahlig earned the victory despite six hits, four hit batsmen and two walks. He struck out five batters, and only one of the runs against him was earned.
Fort Recovery advances to the district championship game against Jefferson (17-6) Friday at Coldwater at 7 p.m. Jefferson, which defeated defending district champion Minster 13-3 Wednesday, topped the Indians 5-0 last week.
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Trailing 4-2 with just two innings to play, a comeback was unlikely. And still down one with two outs in the seventh inning, its fate seemed sealed.
But at tournament time the Indians are never an easy out.
FRHS scored a pair of two-out runs in the top of the seventh inning Wednesday, rallying for a 5-4 Division IV district semifinal baseball victory over the Crestview Knights at Coldwater.
After Crestview (15-9) retired the first two batters of the seventh inning, Derek Koesters drew his fourth walk of the game to keep the Tribe alive. Nathan Keller, the No. 9 hitter with a .171 average and just one extra-base hit this season, crushed a pitch to right-center field for an RBI triple.
That set the stage for Curt Heitkamp, who executed a difficult call from coach Shane McKibben. The senior put down a perfect bunt between pitcher Greg Osborn and first basemen Kyle Balliet, beating it out to first base to allow Keller to score and put the Indians (11-10) in the lead for the first time in the game.
Sophomore starter Greg Kahlig gave up three hits in the bottom of the seventh, but still improved his career tournament record to 5-0.
Heitkamp threw out Osborn trying to steal second base, and Kahlig struck out Jordan Gibson for the second out. After a passed ball advanced runners to second and third, Kahlig intentionally walked Tony Springer and then struck out Ian Zollars to finish the game.
Frank Thien and Heitkamp each had a single, a run and an RBI. Keller scored after his RBI triple, and Cody Fiely had a hit and a run.
The Indians were playing without seniors Bobby Rammel and Clint Tobe - both four-year starters and the No. 2 and 3 hitters on the team - because of a violation of team rules.
Kahlig earned the victory despite six hits, four hit batsmen and two walks. He struck out five batters, and only one of the runs against him was earned.
Fort Recovery advances to the district championship game against Jefferson (17-6) Friday at Coldwater at 7 p.m. Jefferson, which defeated defending district champion Minster 13-3 Wednesday, topped the Indians 5-0 last week.
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