Tribe drops home opener

Copyright 2017, The Commercial Review

All Rights ReservedFORT RECOVERY — The Indians weren’t able to muster a hit off Kole Merlin.

And once they got to the Bulldogs’ bullpen, it was too little too late.

Celina scored five runs in the fourth inning and the Fort Recovery High School baseball team didn’t register a hit until the fifth in an 8-2 loss Monday in its home opener.

“They have really good pitching,” said FRHS coach Jerry Kaup, whose team fell to 1-1 on the season and travels to Van Wert to play the Lincolnview Lancers today. “They got some good swings on the ball and we gave them a couple walks and a couple errors. They took advantage of them all.”

Already leading 3-0 thanks to a run in the first inning and two more in the second, Celina (3-0) broke the game open with a five-run fifth. Leadoff hitter Shawn Rose began the top half of the frame with a walk, chasing FRHS starter Cole Wendel from the game. Three batters later, Tanner Freeman hit an RBI single off Reese Rogers, and Parker Maurer smacked a two-run double down the left field line. Reid Harter also had an RBI single in the inning.

“That is them putting in work in the offseason, bottom line,” said Celina assistant coach Andy Waesch, who was filling in for the ill Andy Mikesell. “This group of seniors and everybody else just put that work in the offseason and it’s showing.

“We look like we’re a little ahead because we put that work in.”

Despite surrendering five walks, Celina starter Murlin didn’t allow the Indians to get a runner to third base. The best they got was a runner on second in the second and fourth innings. But time and time again, the right-handed junior got out of the jam.

With two outs in the second inning, Evan Post walked and Mason Will got hit by a pitch to give the Indians runners on first and second before Murlin struck out Davis Will to end the threat. Two innings later, Ethan Schoen and Mason Will each drew walks but Davis Will went down swinging again to end the threat.

“Kole is a battler,” Waesch said. “He will always battle. That is what he does. We worked in the offseason quite a bit on his curveball. Started to look better, threw quite a bit for strikes (and) had guys looking at some. He settled in really nice.

Wendel drew a walk to begin the fifth inning, and Waesch went to his bullpen. Ben Homan reached on an error on the second pitch he saw from Rose.

Nick Thwaits, who had a three-run home run in his first at bat of the season Saturday against Delphos St. John’s, rifled a sacrifice fly to deep left field to drive in Wendel. Schoen hit an RBI single to drive in Cashaus Metzger, who pinch ran for Homan.

Murlin notched the win, allowing two runs — one earned — without surrendering a hit in four-plus innings while striking out five. He also recorded two hits, scored twice and drove in a run. Freeman led Celina with three hits, including a pair of doubles, as the Bulldogs racked up 13 hits.

Kaup credited his team for continuing to battle in the late innings despite being down 8-0.

“You don’t know what inning it is but maybe you can break out,” he said. “You don’t know if it’s going to be the first one and how many chances you’re going to get.

“Keep your heads up. Keep playing and go to the end.”

Wendel shouldered the loss. He allowed three runs — two earned — on five hits in three-plus innings. He walked four. At the plate, the junior drew three walks. Will Homan and Schoen notched the only two hits for the Indians. Homan broke up Celina’s no-hit bid with one out in the fifth.