Tribe tops Russia

FORT RECOVERY - The first week of the season is a busy one for the Indians as they play five times in six days. They've spent the first two games pounding out doubles against Shelby County foes.

Fort Recovery racked up five doubles Thursday against the Russia Raiders, three of which came in the sixth inning, on the way to a 5-2 victory.

"That's just fantastic," said FRHS coach Marie Osterholt, whose teamed opened the season with a 10-0 win Monday over Jackson Center. "They're doing a great job. They see the ball; they're hitting it well. They're keeping their weight back for power. They're driving it. That's really good to see."

Josie Guggenbiller, Andi Sutter and Marissa Brunswick all ripped doubles for the second straight night, with Sutter getting the ball rolling in the second inning.

With the Tribe trailing 1-0, Kendra Brunswick singled and Taylor Guggenbiller drew a walk to put two runners on base for Sutter. She blasted a double to left-center field, bringing both Brunswick and Guggenbiller around to score.

After Russia pulled even with a run in the top of the third inning, Olivia Thien smacked an RBI double to right-center in the bottom of the frame to push Fort Recovery ahead for good. The Indians added a run in the fifth inning, and then Stacy Gehle, Marissa Brunswick and Josie Guggenbiller hammered three consecutive doubles to start the sixth.

Thien finished with two hits and two RBIs, Josie Guggenbiller had the double, a run and a stolen base and Marissa Brunswick went 2-for-3.

"We've been working on that every day," said Osterholt, who watched the final double from Guggenbiller soar over left fielder Alyssa Drees' head on the way to the fence. "We've been working with them to get more power, rather than just meeting the ball ... we want them to drive it hard. And so far, so good."

The Indians (2-0) now get a couple of days off before hosting Mississinawa Valley Friday and National Trail for a double-header Saturday.

Russia got two hits apiece from Courtney Sherman and Alyssa Drees, but its No. 2 through 6 hitters finished a combined 0-for-17.

Russia coach Roger Hammonds was also left lamenting a couple of base-running errors that cost his team scoring chances. Although the Raiders were able to escape a run-down leading to their run in the third inning, Sherman was caught trying to steal third base later in the frame.

And center fielder Marissa Brunswick gunned down Drees, who didn't slide, trying to stretch a single into a double in the fifth.

"(Defensively), we had a couple of plays where we could have had a couple girls out at home," added Hammonds of his team's problems. "It was a lack of communication.

"We had our two, three and four hitters last night (in a 6-0 win over Fort Loramie) hitting the ball all over the place. Tonight, I don't know if they did anything. That hurt us too."

Sutter picked up her second win of the season, giving up just two runs on five hits. She recorded seven strikeouts, sitting down Jessica Millhouse in each of her three trips to the plate.

After giving up two runs on three hits in the first three innings, the junior locked down and allowed just two hits - consecutive singles from Drees and Makenzie Monnin in the fifth inning - the rest of the way. After those hits she sat down the final seven batters she faced without allowing the ball to leave the infield.

"She gets stronger as she goes," said Osterholt. "I think she throws harder in the later innings. Her control is there. She was hitting her spots. I saw Josie make the spots and she'd hit it."

Through 13 innings thus far, Sutter has yet to surrender a walk. Meanwhile, the Indians have drawn 10 free passes.

"That's amazing," said Osterholt of Sutter, who averaged a walk every three innings last season. "That's what hard work does. ... It's going to be a great season for her I believe."

Katelyn Herron, a sophomore, suffered the loss in what was an all-or-nothing effort. She recorded 11 strikeouts, but also gave up 10 hits and three walks.

"She got behind in the count," said Hammonds. "She had more walks than what she normally has. And when you get behind in the count, you've got to throw strikes. Good hitters know that ... that's where they capitalized."[[In-content Ad]]