Homan, FR dominate 'Dogs

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FORT RECOVERY — The Bulldogs scored an unearned run off Ben Homan in the first inning.

But the Tribe senior put his team out front in the home half of the frame.

And then he made sure to not allow any more damage.

Homan drove in what turned out to be the decisive tally on a two-run single in the first and was sharp on the mound Monday in leading the Fort Recovery High School baseball team to a 10-1 victory over the Celina Bulldogs.

“You have to play both, offense and defense,” said Homan, who finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs. “It’s not just a one-way game.”

The Indians (2-1), who host Lincolnview today, had their home opener a day early as the game was moved to Fort Recovery while the City of Celina worked to finish repairing damage to Montgomery Field left by the rare November tornado.

“This day is on us, not knowing where we were going to play,” said Celina coach Andy Mikesell. “We had a real bad practice Saturday and bad practices translate to bad games. We have to do a better job of preparing. Plain and simple we weren’t ready to play.”

But Celina (0-1) did get its only run of the game early. Gabe Perry drove in Grant Wagner, who reached on an error, with a single down the left-field line in the top of the first inning.

In the home half, however, the Indians put two runners in scoring position and Homan delivered.

Cade Wendel, the leadoff man, got hit by a pitch and advanced on a wild pitch. Will Homan bunted to put runners at the corners before swiping second. After a strikeout, Ben Homan blasted a two-run double to the gap in right-center to bring home his classmates for the only runs the Indians really needed.

“Stepping into that box, two guys in scoring position, you’ve got to put the ball in play,” he said. “You’ve got to do the best you can to bring your guys in and help your team as much as you can.”

Homan then fanned all three batters he faced in the top of the second, and the Indians put the game out of reach with five runs when they got their next chance to bat.

Kody Shinabery had an RBI double to drive in Ethan Schoen, and Wendel ripped an RBI double two batters later. Will Homan blooped a single to shallow right-center that Celina’s Parker Maurer made a diving attempt to grab. He wasn’t able to squeeze the ball for the catch, and Riley Post trotted home.

Wendel scored on an error on a double steal before Nick Thwaits drove in Will Homan on a single to right.

“We had an opportunity to do some running on the bases,” Kaup said. “We were able to capitalize on that and get some timely hits and make that all count.”

Will Homan and Thwaits joined Ben Homan with multi-hit games, as Fort Recovery out-hit Celina 11-3.

Ben Homan simply stymied the Celina offense following the first inning. After recording three strikeouts in the second inning, he struck out two more in each of the next two innings — he fanned nine batters total — before running into a little bit of trouble in the fifth.

After two quick outs an error and consecutive walks loaded the bases, Homan struck out Bransen Miller on a changeup to get out of the jam.

“I just needed to throw strikes,” said Homan, who allowed one unearned run on two hits with a pair of walks in five innings.

Celina starting pitcher Reid Harter struggled to get ahead in the count against Fort Recovery and only lasted three innings. He allowed up seven runs — five earned — on seven hits.

“He just got behind all the time,” Mikesell said. “He’s not overpowering by any means. If you fall behind and they know what’s coming they’re going to smash it and they did.”

Reese Rogers and Ben Homan both drove in a pair of runs in the fourth inning for a 9-1 Tribe advantage, and Post knocked in pinch-hitter Cashaus Metzger in the fifth inning for the final run.

“We hit the ball really well,” Homan said. “Top to bottom everyone hit the ball, put the ball in play.

“We can do a lot of damage if everyone can hit the ball.”