Tribe marches on

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Nate Bosway pitched like the ace that he is.
Jackson Hobbs simply threw better.
Lehman Catholic scored in the first inning on an error, and Fort Recovery strung together three runs in the bottom of the frame.
Both pitchers settled down, with Hobbs only allowing one more run through the next six innings.
Bosway wasn’t as fortunate, as the Indians touched him up for two more runs in the sixth inning to beat the Cavaliers 5-2 in the Division IV regional semifinal Thursday at Wittenberg University.
Fort Recovery, which is No. 3 in the state, will meet Cincinnati Country Day in the regional championship game at 5 p.m. today. Sixth-ranked Country Day, which is also the Indians, defeated Russia 2-0 in the second semifinal.
 “It was a good win,” said FRHS coach Jerry Kaup, whose team moves to 24-5 and is back in the regional title game for the first time in six decades. “This time of year when you get into these battles, you know you’re going to have a really great opponent on the other side.”
Thursday against the Tribe, the Cavaliers (26-5) benefited from a communication error to get on the board.
Greg Spearman put Hobbs’ first pitch of the game back up the middle, and two batters later Cole Proffitt hit a dribbler back to Hobbs.
The junior threw it to second base to get Spearman, but shortstop Jacob Homan and second baseman Derek Backs both made an attempt on the ball allowing Spearman to reach safely.
Hobbs struck out Parker Riley for the second out of the game, but Max Schutt hit a single up the middle to plate the game’s first run.
 “They got a run early on a communication error that shouldn’t happen,” said Homan. He led the Indians with two hits and also drove in a run. “We’ll fix that for (today).”
Hobbs, who notched his 10th win of the season and is now one off the school record, fought through a shaky first inning for the second consecutive game. He gave up two early runs to Minster in the district championship on Saturday.
But like Saturday, the Tribe answered right back.
Mitch Stammen fell behind 0-2, but evened the count before lining a single through the left side. Bosway hit Cole Wendel with a pitch to give the Indians runners at first and second, and Hobbs drove in the tying run with a single of his own through the left side, advancing to second on a throw to the plate.
With a pair of runners at the plate and no outs, Backs — the Indians’ cleanup hitter — bunted as Wendel broke for the plate. Backs’ well-placed squeeze let Wendel score the go-ahead run, and Homan drove in Hobbs with the first of his two hits.
“There were some early jitters and they got that early run,” Kaup said. “But (Stammen’s) leadoff at bat to get us back on track where we get a runner and get something going … we only have to get one back. We’re playing to get one.
“Fortunately we were able to pull off three of them in that first inning. We play with some confidence with Jackson on the mound. Really, both pitchers kind of found their groove.”
Following the Tribe’s three runs, Bosway settled down. He retired 10 straight FRHS hitters until Nate Lochtefeld reached on an error with two outs in the fourth inning. He then sat down the next four batters before a leadoff walk to Hobbs in the sixth sparked a two-run frame for the Tribe.
“We could never really recover,” said LCHS coach Dave King. “But you have to give them credit. … They got two-strike hits and that was crucial.”
Hobbs also hunkered down in the middle innings after a rocky start. Lehman Catholic had two base runners through the next three innings before Nick Rourke rifled a double down the left field line to begin the fifth. Hobbs got two quick outs, but Cole Proffitt hit a single up the middle to get the Cavs within one, 3-2.
They wouldn’t score again.
Hobbs allowed two runs — one earned — in seven innings, scattering six hits while striking out five. He now boasts a 0.67 ERA, which is on pace to break the school record of 0.76 he set last season.
Backs followed up Hobbs’ walk in the sixth with a single through the left side, and Homan bunted for a hit with no outs. LCHS first baseman Proffitt fielded the bunt away from the bag, and his desperation toss to Bosway was late.
With Ross Homan — he entered as a courtesy runner for Hobbs — rounding third base hard, Bosway attempted a throw but decided late to hold back and the ball dribbled out of his hand and in front of the mound. Homan scored easily, and three batters later Ben Will hit a sacrifice fly for the fifth and final run.
The Indians are moving on, and for the first time since 1953 they are one game away from a regional championship.
“It’s awesome,” Hobbs said. “It’s a great feeling to win (Thursday) and come back (today).
Nearly a half hour after the game, Homan still had a difficult time controlling his excitement.
“It’s been amazing,” he said, fumbling to find the words to describe the tournament run. “One win away from state. It’s exciting.”