FR comeback falls short

FORT RECOVERY — A five-run deficit didn’t discourage the Indians, but their comeback attempt still came up short.
Fort Recovery High School’s softball team scored three times in its final at bat Friday and had the game-tying run on second base with one out. However, Versailles cut down a runner at the plate and pitcher Kayla McEldowney recorded the final when she snagged on a line drive back up the middle.
“(We came up) just a little short,” said FRHS coach Marie Osterholt. “But I’m proud of them. They battled. They could have given up and they didn’t. We played all seven innings, and that’s what I want to see from them. Our wins will come.”
The game was tied at 2-2 before Versailles (4-8, 1-1 Midwest Athletic Conference) scored twice in the fifth inning four times in the sixth.
Each of the first seven Fort Recovery batters reached base in the bottom of the seventh inning, with Sierra Loya and Beca Tobe leading off with back-to-back singles. Karissa Will drew a walk to load the bases, and Taylor Guggenbiller drove in pinch runner Kendra Stammen with a single to center field.
Tobe scored on a walk by Jackie Fullenkamp, and Will came in on a fielder’s choice by Melissa Lochtefeld. However, Guggenbiller was cut down at home while trying to score on a ground ball, and Tori Lennartz lined out to McEldwoney to end the game.
Fort Recovery (2-10, 0-1 MAC) had three runners thrown out at the plate in the game, two of which came with less than two outs.
“We took some chances to see if we could score. We’ve got to be aggressive, and we were. It didn’t work out, but maybe next time it will.”
It was the 10th straight loss for Fort Recovery, which has been without starting shortstop Janelle Schiweterman for the last five games. The junior was seriously injured in a car accident April 5.
“It was very hard,” said Osterholt of the team coping with Schwieterman’s injury. “This whole last week, their minds weren’t in it. They were really worried about her, and thinking of her and they’re still thinking of her. They miss her.
“I think with them knowing that she’s going to be OK, I think they’re getting back to being ready to play ball. We’ll get there.”
Tobe took the loss as half of the Versailles runs were unearned. She gave up seven hits and eight walks while striking out one.
Guggenbiller led the Tribe with three hits and an RBI, and Lochtefeld had a single, two runs and an RBI.
Danielle Langston picked up the win for Versailles, allowing two runs — one earned — on six hits.
Madison Monnin keyed the four-run sixth for the Tigers with a home run.


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