Indians fall to Russia

RUSSIA, Ohio — Neither team scored in its final four at bats. It was the first two that buried the Indians.
Fort Recovery gave up seven runs in the first two innings Tuesday, falling 7-1 to the Russia Raiders.
“We had a lot of things not go our way tonight,” said FRHS coach Marie Osterholt, whose team is now 1-1. “We had way too many errors. They hit the ball very well.
“It’s hard to come out from a 4-0 deficit. They kept playing though. And that I’m proud of them for. They don’t quit. We’ll get better.”
The trouble was immediate for the Indians as Russia leadoff hitter Mackenzie Monnin ripped the first pitch of the game to left field for a double. And after Tori Borchers reached base on an error and Katelyn Herron walked, Mallory Neargarder clobbered a bases-clearing double to the gap in left-center.
Neargarder later scored to give the Raiders (2-0) a 4-0 lead.
“That was definitely the key,” said Russia coach Roger Hammonds. “That leadoff double set the whole tone for the game right there. We came through and scored four there in the first. From there you could tell they were down a little bit.”
The top of the Raiders’ order came through again in the second inning when Monnin was hit by a pitch and Borchers walked. Herron and Neargarder delivered back-to-back singles, and Heidi Petty and Jessica Millhouse each walked to drive in runs.
Neargarder finished with a pair of hits and four RBIs, and Monnin had two hits and two runs. Borchers and Herron each scored twice, and Petty added two RBIs.
“That’s a continuation of last night. We had a girl (senior Amanda Kramer) that’s sick tonight hit a bases-clearing triple last night, and the hits just kept coming (tonight),” said Hammonds.
“We scored two last night in the first inning and scored four tonight. We’re putting the pressure on the other team.
“We played Houston last night, which has dominated our league for years, and we beat them 11-1. … You beat a quality team like that and come back out here and do it again tonight, you can’t ask much more from your kids.”
Fort Recovery’s only run, which was unearned, came in the third inning.
Karissa Will reached base on an error by Millhouse, the Russia third baseman, and then stole second. Shelby Brunswick drove her in with a ground out back to Herron.
The Tribe matched the Raiders with seven hits, but struck out 12 times against Herron.
“This pitcher had a lot more speed than last night,” said Osterholt. “We just couldn’t catch up to her as well. …
“I thought we came out a little flat-footed tonight. … We’ve got to be ready to play. Nobody is going to give us a game. We’ve got to earn it.”
Seven errors, as well as some other mental miscues, hurt the Indians in the game as well.
But the Tribe did come up with some key defensive plays to keep Russia off the scoreboard after the second inning.
Sisters Olivia and Janelle Schwieterman, who play left and center field respectively, each had outfield assists for force outs at third base. And catcher Taylor Guggenbiller picked off Taylor Borchers at third base for the final out of the fifth inning.
Andi Sutter struck out five batters, but also had some control issues as she allowed seven runs — five earned — in four innings to take the loss. She gave up three walks and hit a batter in four innings against Russia after allowing five walks in the Tribe’s win Monday over Franklin Monroe.
Beca Tobe tossed two hitless innings of relief.
“She is struggling a little bit,” said Osterholt of Sutter, who walked just 26 batters last season. “She’s trying to find her groove. She’ll be fine. She just needs to relax and stop thinking about it so much.”[[In-content Ad]]