FRHS sweeps finale

FORT RECOVERY — Despite falling in the sectional tournament Wednesday, the Indians played perhaps their best softball of the season in keeping the pressure on top-seeded Parkway until the final pitch.
That effort carried through to the final days of the regular season.
Fort Recovery closed with three consecutive wins, including a doubleheader sweep Saturday of the Spencerville Bearcats. The Tribe won the opening game 10-1 and dominated the second 22-2 in five innings.
“That’s what I was really hoping for,” said Marie Osterholt of the way her team played in its final few games. “That’s why we covered the field and that’s why we did all the extra work to make sure we could get these games in.
“These girls never quit, ever, in any game, no matter what we’re up or what we’re down. That’s what you want from your team. And they always work hard.”
Spencerville (2-17) scored once in the top of the first inning of game one, but the Indians responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame and never trailed again. They scored five runs in the fifth inning to put the game away.
Game two was never in doubt as Fort Recovery (12-13) sent 12 batters to the plate in the opening inning and scored seven times. They also batted around in the second inning (six runs) and the third (nine runs).
Taylor Guggenbiller went 2-for-3 with a double and four RBIs in the opener. Her courtesy runner, Beca Tobe, scored two runs.
Olivia Thien and Kendra Brunswick each added two hits, two runs and an RBI. Thien had a standout second game as well, finishing 3-for-3 with a walk, four runs, three RBIs and three stolen bases.
After having several hard-hit balls go right to Spencerville fielders in the opener, Olivia Schwieterman had a double and a triple for five RBIs in game two. She also stole three bases and scored twice.
“They see the ball really well, and they hit the ball really hard,” said Osterholt of her pair of Olivias.
“They both have speed and they’re just great ballplayers.
“We had 30-plus hits today. It was just fantastic. They hit the ball all year, so I’m glad to see them finish strong.”
Shelby Brunswick scored twice in the first game, and Janelle Schwieterman notched two doubles, two RBIs and two runs in the second. Stacy Gehle added two hits and two runs in game two.
Andi Sutter earned both victories, holding the Bearcats to just four hits in the final six innings of the opener. She struck out four batters without allowing a walk, and gave up the one earned run on seven hits.
She pitched in relief in the second game, again earning the victory as she tossed three scoreless innings. She struck out three batters and allowed only one hit.
“Nobody works harder than Andi,” said Osterholt of the senior, who has tossed more than 90 percent of the varsity innings for FRHS over the last two seasons. “She’s just a great kid and did a great job for us.”
Beca Tobe threw the first two innings of the second game, giving up two runs — one earned — on one hit and three walks. She struck out one batter.
Losing pitchers for Spencerville were Kaytlynn Warnecke and Tori Johnston. Warnecke allowed five runs on five hits and two walks in four innings in game one, and Johnston survived just a third of an inning as she gave up five runs on one hit and four walks in game two.
Warnecke was 2-for-3 with a run in the opener. Jenny Shimp also had two hits on the day for the Bearcats.
The Tribe seniors — Kendra Brunswick, Shelby Brunswick, Gehle, Thien and Sutter — accounted for 13 hits, 15 runs and 12 RBIs in the final two games of their careers.
“They’ve meant everything to me,” said Osterholt. “They always gave 110 percent. … They’re five great kids.
“I don’t know what to say. It’s a great group of girls. I really enjoyed them this season. I’m going to miss those five seniors.”[[In-content Ad]]