March 29, 2017 at 2:36 a.m.
Small in the seventh
Bunts in the final inning help Tribe rally for 5-1 victory
Copyright 2017, The Commercial Review
All Rights Reserved
VAN WERT, Ohio — Once again, the Indians had a tough time breaking through against a starting pitcher.
This time they couldn’t wait to get to the Lancer bullpen.
Down to its final three outs, the Fort Recovery High School baseball team scored five runs in the top of the seventh to beat the host Lincolnview Lancers on Tuesday.
“I’m glad that we get seven innings because we needed that last one tonight,” said FRHS coach Jerry Kaup, whose team moves to 2-1 on the year. “We just couldn’t get going. Seemed like we were having some opportunities but we just couldn’t finish the deal.”
The Indians managed just two hits through the first six innings and struck out 10 times, including the first six outs of the game.
“Then finally in the seventh inning we played some small ball,” Kaup added. “We were able to get some key hits there later on and finish the deal.”
Ethan Schoen drew a leadoff walk, while Kody Shinaberry and Mason Will laid down back-to-back bunts. Will, who had a single in the third inning, dropped a 1-2 pitch in front of the pitcher and beat the throw to first base to load the bases with Indians.
Davis Will watched as Lincolnview freshman reliever Gavin Carter’s 3-1 offering missed off the plate for a bases-loaded walk to tie the score at one apiece.
Ethan Parsons replaced Carter, and his first pitch to Cade Wendel was wild. It allowed Shinaberry to score from third to make it 2-1 Fort Recovery. Wendel then laid down a bunt before being thrown out, and the subsequent throw to the plate to try to cut off Mason Will missed the mark as the Tribe took a 3-1 advantage.
“Bunting just one of the tools you have to be able to use in certain games,” said Kaup, who in recent years hasn’t been afraid to have even his power hitters play small ball. “We like to hit the ball around the outfield and bang it around, but sometimes that opportunity just doesn’t come around. Tonight, small ball was what we had to do to get us going.”
And then it was hitting the ball out of the infield that allowed the Tribe to get a couple more insurance runs.
Ben Homan, who tossed a gem to get the win on the mound for the Tribe, ripped an RBI sac fly to center field to make it 4-1. Nick Thwaits followed with a double off the fence in left-center, and Will Homan blooped a single into shallow right field to complete the five-run effort.
“There are two sides to the game, the defensive side and offensive side,” said Ben Homan, who allowed one hit and three walks while striking out a dozen Lancers, including the final three of the game. “You have to produce on both sides to win games. You have to put runs across the board which we did. It felt good.”
The only hit Homan surrendered came in the second inning when Ethan Kemler legged out an infield single, and advanced on a throwing error by shortstop Wendel. Two batters later, Kemler scored on a groundout. From there, Homan settled down, found his groove and didn’t allow another Lancer to reach third base.
“I think he did a standout job on the mound today,” Kaup said. “I thought he did a great job with first pitch strikes. He was just ahead almost all day. I loved his rhythm.”
Homan wasn’t even sure he’d be able to pitch after injuring his left ankle — the plant foot for a right-handed pitcher — in Monday’s game against Celina.
“On the way here I taped it up, bulked it up with tape to make sure I couldn’t twist it or anything,” he said. “Threw strikes and had the defense help a lot.”
Though the defense behind him wasn’t necessarily needed.
As for his teammates finally helping him out at the plate?
“I was very happy with that,” said Homan, who also had a double in the first inning for a multi-hit game. “It’s nice to rely on teammates.
“It’s a good feeling to have teammates you can rely on and trust them.”
All Rights Reserved
VAN WERT, Ohio — Once again, the Indians had a tough time breaking through against a starting pitcher.
This time they couldn’t wait to get to the Lancer bullpen.
Down to its final three outs, the Fort Recovery High School baseball team scored five runs in the top of the seventh to beat the host Lincolnview Lancers on Tuesday.
“I’m glad that we get seven innings because we needed that last one tonight,” said FRHS coach Jerry Kaup, whose team moves to 2-1 on the year. “We just couldn’t get going. Seemed like we were having some opportunities but we just couldn’t finish the deal.”
The Indians managed just two hits through the first six innings and struck out 10 times, including the first six outs of the game.
“Then finally in the seventh inning we played some small ball,” Kaup added. “We were able to get some key hits there later on and finish the deal.”
Ethan Schoen drew a leadoff walk, while Kody Shinaberry and Mason Will laid down back-to-back bunts. Will, who had a single in the third inning, dropped a 1-2 pitch in front of the pitcher and beat the throw to first base to load the bases with Indians.
Davis Will watched as Lincolnview freshman reliever Gavin Carter’s 3-1 offering missed off the plate for a bases-loaded walk to tie the score at one apiece.
Ethan Parsons replaced Carter, and his first pitch to Cade Wendel was wild. It allowed Shinaberry to score from third to make it 2-1 Fort Recovery. Wendel then laid down a bunt before being thrown out, and the subsequent throw to the plate to try to cut off Mason Will missed the mark as the Tribe took a 3-1 advantage.
“Bunting just one of the tools you have to be able to use in certain games,” said Kaup, who in recent years hasn’t been afraid to have even his power hitters play small ball. “We like to hit the ball around the outfield and bang it around, but sometimes that opportunity just doesn’t come around. Tonight, small ball was what we had to do to get us going.”
And then it was hitting the ball out of the infield that allowed the Tribe to get a couple more insurance runs.
Ben Homan, who tossed a gem to get the win on the mound for the Tribe, ripped an RBI sac fly to center field to make it 4-1. Nick Thwaits followed with a double off the fence in left-center, and Will Homan blooped a single into shallow right field to complete the five-run effort.
“There are two sides to the game, the defensive side and offensive side,” said Ben Homan, who allowed one hit and three walks while striking out a dozen Lancers, including the final three of the game. “You have to produce on both sides to win games. You have to put runs across the board which we did. It felt good.”
The only hit Homan surrendered came in the second inning when Ethan Kemler legged out an infield single, and advanced on a throwing error by shortstop Wendel. Two batters later, Kemler scored on a groundout. From there, Homan settled down, found his groove and didn’t allow another Lancer to reach third base.
“I think he did a standout job on the mound today,” Kaup said. “I thought he did a great job with first pitch strikes. He was just ahead almost all day. I loved his rhythm.”
Homan wasn’t even sure he’d be able to pitch after injuring his left ankle — the plant foot for a right-handed pitcher — in Monday’s game against Celina.
“On the way here I taped it up, bulked it up with tape to make sure I couldn’t twist it or anything,” he said. “Threw strikes and had the defense help a lot.”
Though the defense behind him wasn’t necessarily needed.
As for his teammates finally helping him out at the plate?
“I was very happy with that,” said Homan, who also had a double in the first inning for a multi-hit game. “It’s nice to rely on teammates.
“It’s a good feeling to have teammates you can rely on and trust them.”
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