Tribe lights up Jets with 8-run third inning (04/17/04)

FORT RECOVERY — The Jets treated their fans to a quick-hitting, but short, outburst. The Fort Recovery softball team, on the other hand, took its time and brought the house down.

The Indians started slowly, but slaughtered the Fairlawn Jets for eight third-inning runs in a 13-3 victory Friday.

“I think it took a first look to get (Fairlawn pitcher Rita Cook) timed up,” said Fort Recovery coach Marie Osterholt. “She was a little slower than we’re used to. But, once they did that, they could hit the ball.”

Could they ever.

Trailing 2-0 after a pair of first-inning runs by Fairlawn, Megan Wenning led off the Fort Recovery third with a single to left field. Ciera Rammel followed with a fly out to center field, but Lisa Grisez, Joscie Kaup and Krystal Rammel then knocked three consecutive singles.

Wenning and Grisez scored on Kaup’s hit to right-center field.

Brenda Rindler matched Ciera Rammel’s pop to center for the second out before the next five Indian hitters reached base. Julie Smith walked, Renee Evers blasted a two-run double to left-center and Kelsie Will and Wenning also walked.

Wenning’s walk brought in one run, and Evers scored on a close play after a wild pitch.

Then Ciera Rammel went to the plate again, this time smashing the ball past Fairlawn second baseman Lauren Steed. Her shot caromed off the lip of the outfield grass and leapt over right fielder Tiffany Carey’s head for a two-run triple.

The Jets (2-9) finally ended the inning on another fly ball to center by Grisez, but they never recovered from the Tribe onslaught.

Osterholt gave much of the credit to the big inning to Wenning. Prior to her single to start the frame the Tribe had just one hit, an infield single by Grisez.

“That’s big,” said Osterholt. “That’s fantastic. I think they just needed to be more aggressive at the plate.

“When Megan got that hit, that was it. It was just bam, bam, bam, bam.”

“They finally keyed on our pitcher,” said Fairlawn coach Wade Wilhelm. “They had a few base hits and we had some walks too, but they were hitting the ball well.”

The top of the Fort Recovery order was especially on fire, with each of the first four batters notching at least two hits.

Kaup, the senior catcher, paced the effort, finishing 3-for-4 with a double. She drove in three runs and scored twice.

Ciera Rammel, Grisez and Krystal Rammel added two hits apiece. Ciera Rammel tripled, drove in three runs and scored twice, and Grisez and Krystal Rammel each added a run.

After the big third inning Fort Recovery added one run in the fourth, one in the fifth and three in the sixth for its 13-run total.

Renee Evers had the third extra-base hit for the Indians (5-3) with her double. She went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and a run.

Wenning had one hit, two runs and an RBI, and Kelsie Will singled and scored twice.

The Jets looked good early, posting two runs on two hits in the first inning. Hilary Trapp led off the game with a single to left field, and Cook had the big hit of the frame with an RBI double to left.

However, Fairlawn didn’t get another hit off of Tribe starter Julie Smith.

Smith (3-1) tossed four hitless innings after the first, getting the win as she allowed two runs — one earned — in five innings. She walked one and struck out three.

Sarah Cook doubled off of Fort Recovery reliever Alyssa Tobe and scored the only other run for Fairlawn.

Tobe pitched two innings, and the run she allowed was unearned. She gave up three hits while striking out four and walking one.

“That’s great,” said Osterholt of Smith’s comeback after the first inning. “She pitched well. I think she just had to get in her groove.”

“We jumped out fast, then it just disappeared,” said Wilhelm. “That’s the way we’ve been. It’s been like that every ball game where we come out like blazes and then it just (fades).”

Sarah Cook doubled and scored two of the three runs for the Jets. Trapp had a hit and a run, and Rita Cook had a double and RBI. Ashley Franco also drove in a run.

Rita Cook (0-3) took the loss, allowing 13 runs — 12 earned — in seven innings. She walked six and struck out two.[[In-content Ad]]