Kahlig strikes out 16

MINSTER, Ohio - Greg Kahlig has been the Indians' workhouse for two district final trips.

After missing last season's run, Toby Metzger was ready to get back into the mix.

Kahlig struck out 16 batters and Metzger drove in half of the Fort Recovery High School baseball team's runs Saturday in an 8-0 win over the Spencerville Bearcats in Division IV sectional semifinal action.

The Tribe will play for a fourth straight sectional title Wednesday when it takes on New Bremen Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Kahlig wasted no time asserting his dominance against Spencerville, striking out the first two batters of the game and eight of the first nine. He sat down at least one in every inning, and struck out the side in the second, third and sixth.

Spencerville coach Doug Stetler said he had hoped to take advantage of the control problems Kahlig had displayed earlier in the year, but the plan did not work.

"Greg threw well today," said Stetler. "I had the guys take some pitches early. I was hoping to get his pitch count up a little bit and wear him down ... But he came out throwing strikes."

Kahlig gave up just one hit, a double to right field by Tyler Deitering in the fourth inning.

The only other inning in which Spencerville got a runner on base was the seventh, when Kahlig walked the first two batters. He rebounded with back-to-back strikeouts, and then induced a ground ball back to the mound from Matt Wirth to end the game.

"I felt pretty good," said Kahlig. "I thought I had my stuff working.

"It definitely helps to get out early on them and kind of keep them off balance.

Metzger, who missed almost the entire 2008 season because of a knee injury, got his bat going to lead the Tribe offense.

After walking and scoring a run in the first inning, he smacked an RBI double to right field as part of a two-run third. He drove in two of the Indians' three runs in the fourth inning with a single to right field, and added another RBI double to right in the sixth.

"(Metzger) missed the tournament run last year," said FRHS coach Shane McKibben. "He was itching to get back into it. He's a senior. ... Guys who have been in these situations stepped up."

Travis Hart walked in three of his four plate appearances, stole a base and scored twice.

Frank Thien had a single, an RBI and a stolen base, and A.J. Backs and Ryan Schoen each added a hit and a run.

"The team responded well with some timely hitting," said McKibben, whose team drew eight walks to go along with seven hits. "You get on base and you make some things happen. You put some pressure on the defense. Tonight we benefitted."

Deitering took the loss for the Bearcats (4-11), giving up six runs on five hits and seven walks in four innings.

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