Ends on an error

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COLDWATER, Ohio — The Indians already had a target on their backs.

As two-time defending champions and the district’s top seed, the Indians were going to have to make plays defensively to get to the Panthers.

The Tribe’s defense just made too many mistakes.

Fort Recovery High School’s baseball team committed 10 errors as its season came to an abrupt end on Wednesday in a 14-3 loss to the Parkway Panthers in the Division IV district semifinal at Coldwater’s Veteran’s Field.

“We couldn’t do anything, and when we did get balls hit to us we didn’t know what to do with them,” said FRHS coach Jerry Kaup, whose team made the state final four in each of the last two seasons. “Obviously when you make 10 errors at this level of the game it is going to be a bad night for your team.”

Parkway (11-11), which defeated Fort Recovery 4-0 in nine innings April 27, advances to the district championship game at 7 p.m. Friday against either Midwest Athletic Conference foe Minster Wildcats or Delphos St. John’s Blue Jays.

“This time we put the ball in play,” said Parkway coach Luke Clouse, noting his team didn’t perform very well the last time it faced Fort Recovery flamethrower Nick Thwaits. “Last time we faced him we didn’t. Good things happen. Hate to see a team make errors and things like that, but not as much hate to see it when it’s the other team.”

Parkway scored a run in each of the first and third innings, only to have the Indians (13-11) tie the game on back-to-back doubles in the home half of the frame.

But the tie game didn’t last long.

Fort Recovery’s defense started to crack in the fifth inning. Consecutive errors to begin the inning gave Parkway runners on first and second, and a walk loaded the bases. Trace Walls hit a two-run single to break the tie, and the runners advanced on an outfield error to chase Thwaits from the game.

Thwaits, who was named MAC player of the year on Tuesday, allowed five runs — one earned — on seven hits while striking out five and walking two in four innings.

Fort Recovery then committed five more errors in the frame. The defensive mishaps allowed Parkway to send 12 batters to the plate and score eight runs to break the game open.

“Once they got to the fifth inning, geez, everything just collapsed for us,” Kaup said. “It’s disappointing. When you make the number of errors we did … It’s just disappointing for us to come out on a big stage and play this way in front of our fans.”

It’s not that Thwaits didn’t have his stuff, it’s just Parkway came out hacking. In the first inning, the Panthers knew the Kent State commit was going to throw first-pitch fastballs and they weren’t shy swinging. Many of Parkway’s hits were bloopers through the infield, but a handful of fielding errors and throws that were off the mark kept the fifth inning alive.

“For once we had time to prepare for a team,” Clouse said. “Their timing was 100 times better tonight and it worked out better for us.”

Clayton Agler led the Panthers with three hits, including a triple as part of the fifth inning. Logan Huff had an RBI single in the first and third innings, as Tristen McKee and Walls each had a pair of hits.

“Logan Huff came in early in the game twice and got huge hits,” Clouse said. “Didn’t crush the ball, but put them in great spots. We got the runs in. That’s what we’ve been missing.”

Walls got the win for the Panthers, tossing 5 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs — two earned — on four hits while walking four and striking out 10.

“He did a fantastic job,” Clouse said. “Every time out he goes out there and gives us a chance to win. We finally scored some runs behind him today, let him pitch is game and have some fun.”

Thwaits and Ben Homan hit back-to-back RBI doubles in the third inning. Davis Will and Josh Muhlenkamp both had pinch-hit singles in the sixth inning.