Fort tops Skins in MAC opener (04/22/03)

ST. HENRY, Ohio — If the Indians continue to get this kind of production from the bottom of the order they could win a lot of Midwest Athletic Conference games. They at least had enough punch to take their MAC opener.

The bottom four hitters in the Fort Recovery softball team’s lineup accounted for six of its seven runs on the way to a 7-2 victory over St. Henry Monday.

“We’ve been working on that,” said Indian coach Marie Osterholt of the team’s offensive balance. “We switched our lineup a little and it’s helped a lot.”

The help against the Redskins (7-6, 1-1 MAC) came in the form of No. 6 hitter Sarah Schmitz followed by Allison Perkeybile, Tanya Thobe and Ciera Rammel.

Fort Recovery (6-3, 1-0 MAC) was nursing a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Perkeybile got the first rally started with a one-out walk. Thobe followed with a single to right field, and the pair advanced to second and third on an error by right fielder Kendra Buschur.

Rammel hit what looked like a ground out, but first baseman Kendra Post dropped the throw allowing her to reach safely and Perkeybile to score from third. Lisa Grisez also reached on an error which scored Thobe, and Rammel came around on a ground out from Julie Faller to push the Indians’ lead to 4-0 after three and a half innings.

The score remained the same when Schmitz got another big Tribe inning started with a one-out triple to right-center field in the fifth. Perkeybile went down looking for the second out, but Thobe and Rammel delivered back-to-back RBI singles for two more Fort Recovery runs.

Rammel came home to make it a 7-0 advantage on a passed ball before Grisez struck out to end the inning.

Thobe went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI from her seventh spot in the order. Rammel had a hit, two runs and an RBI, Perkeybile scored once and Schmitz tripled and scored.

Krystal Rammel and Joscie Kaup added two hits apiece.

“I’m very happy,” said Osterholt. “We capitalized (on St. Henry mistakes) in the beginning and then we started hitting the ball. I’m proud of them.”

The Indians’ first run came in the first inning after Julie Faller drew a two-out walk. She advanced to third on a Krystal Rammel single, and scored when the duo executed a double steal.

St. Henry coach Josh Link was clearly upset with the effort put forth by his team. He said he wasn’t sure where the intensity the Redskins showed in their recent MAC opener against Parkway had disappeared to.

“That team that we put on the field tonight... I’m not sure where we came. We didn’t come ready to play. It was obvious Fort Recovery came ready to play. It’s as simple as that.”

St. Henry had runners in scoring position in each of the first two innings, but Schmitz escaped each time. She didn’t allow another legitimate scoring chance until the sixth inning, when the Redskins finally pushed home a run with a bases loaded walk by Megan Siefring.

Still, they stranded three runners when Schmitz struck out Buschur on three pitches to end the inning. They managed one more run in the seventh inning before falling to the defeat.

Schmitz (6-2) earned the win, going the distance and allowing two runs on six hits. She struck out six and walked five.

“Sarah pitched a great game,” said Osterholt. “We told her she had to just count on the defense and throw strikes, and she did at the end.”

Sarah Poling took the loss for the Redskins, allowing seven runs — four earned — on nine hits. She walked three and struck out 10 in seven innings.

Beth Niekamp provided most of the St. Henry offense, garnering half of the team’s hits with a 3-for-3 effort.

“We’re not a very good hitting team right now,” said Link. “I hope we can turn it around.”

Fort Recovery plays again today when it hosts Delphos Jefferson at 5 p.m.[[In-content Ad]]