May 23, 2019 at 11:27 p.m.
Three-run and done
Coldwater senior hits two home runs in ending Fort Recovery's season
Three-run and done
Copyright 2019, The Commercial Review
All Rights Reserved
ELIDA, Ohio — Austin Riethman walked to begin the game for the Cavaliers.
He walked it off to end it, too.
Riethman used gusty wind to his advantage as he hit a pair of three-run home runs, including a no-doubter for a walk off, as the Coldwater Cavaliers ended the season for the Fort Recovery High School baseball team with an 11-1 victory in five innings in the Division III district semifinal Thursday afternoon at Elida's Ed Sandy Field.
“I just think the team came prepared today,” said Coldwater coach Brian Harlamert, whose top-ranked and defending district champion Cavaliers (22-6) advance to the final Saturday against Liberty-Benton, which got a 5-4 win over Ottawa-Glandorf in the second semifinal. “When you get a good start at the beginning from (pitcher) Jake Wenning, a three-year starter, and you get five runs in the first inning I think you get a lot of guys that relax and play good baseball.”
Fort Recovery (12-13) finishes the season with a losing record for the first time since 2012.
“We played a good team today,” said FRHS coach Jerry Kaup. “When you spot a team — that's a good team — a couple of runs early, then you're really fighting from a hole.”
Already ahead 5-0, Ross Weigel drew a two-out walk to begin the home half of the third inning, and Zack McKibben walked to give the Cavaliers two on. Fort Recovery reliever Ryne Post fell behind 2-0 to Reithman, who rocketed the third offering to deep left field in staking the Cavs to an 8-0 advantage.
Two frames later, Weigel again reached base with two outs after blooping a single to shallow right field, and Reece Dellinger walked as McKibben's pinch hitter.
This time, Riethman faced a 1-1 count against FRHS senior Kody Shinabery, and Riethman lofted a ball into the gusting wind toward left and immediately knew it was the game-winner.
“He's a good hitter,” said Kaup, who noted he did not pitch Riethman any differently in the fifth than they did in the third. “You have to pitch. He did damage today. He really, really did some damage today.”
Riethman was 2-for-3 with six RBIs.
Harlamert chuckled when asked if he thought Riethman was gunning for the walk-off homer.
“Why not?” he said, smiling. “Walk-off fashion. Money in the bank.”
It didn't take long for Coldwater to build its lead in the first inning. Noah Miller hit an RBI single to score Riethman, and a throwing error on the same play plated Wenning. Cole Frilling knocked in two more on a double to left field, and a balk with runners at the corners made it 5-0 to mark the end of the day for FRHS starter Riley Post after recording just one out.
Fort Recovery scored its lone run in the fifth inning by stringing together a bit of offense. Cole Grisez hit a one-out single, and Regan Martin walked. Riley Post reached on an error to load the bases before Cobe Wendel rocketed a liner up the middle that hit Coldwater relief pitcher Payton Goodwin and caromed toward the first base line as all runners advanced safely.
“Our kids took some pretty good swings, we just didn't get them at the right time,” Kaup said. “I thought we took some OK at bats. We played like we wanted to try to come back and win some innings and hopefully get back in the game.
“But Austin Riethman, a couple of those swings, and up in this wind, they were about gone.”
All Rights Reserved
ELIDA, Ohio — Austin Riethman walked to begin the game for the Cavaliers.
He walked it off to end it, too.
Riethman used gusty wind to his advantage as he hit a pair of three-run home runs, including a no-doubter for a walk off, as the Coldwater Cavaliers ended the season for the Fort Recovery High School baseball team with an 11-1 victory in five innings in the Division III district semifinal Thursday afternoon at Elida's Ed Sandy Field.
“I just think the team came prepared today,” said Coldwater coach Brian Harlamert, whose top-ranked and defending district champion Cavaliers (22-6) advance to the final Saturday against Liberty-Benton, which got a 5-4 win over Ottawa-Glandorf in the second semifinal. “When you get a good start at the beginning from (pitcher) Jake Wenning, a three-year starter, and you get five runs in the first inning I think you get a lot of guys that relax and play good baseball.”
Fort Recovery (12-13) finishes the season with a losing record for the first time since 2012.
“We played a good team today,” said FRHS coach Jerry Kaup. “When you spot a team — that's a good team — a couple of runs early, then you're really fighting from a hole.”
Already ahead 5-0, Ross Weigel drew a two-out walk to begin the home half of the third inning, and Zack McKibben walked to give the Cavaliers two on. Fort Recovery reliever Ryne Post fell behind 2-0 to Reithman, who rocketed the third offering to deep left field in staking the Cavs to an 8-0 advantage.
Two frames later, Weigel again reached base with two outs after blooping a single to shallow right field, and Reece Dellinger walked as McKibben's pinch hitter.
This time, Riethman faced a 1-1 count against FRHS senior Kody Shinabery, and Riethman lofted a ball into the gusting wind toward left and immediately knew it was the game-winner.
“He's a good hitter,” said Kaup, who noted he did not pitch Riethman any differently in the fifth than they did in the third. “You have to pitch. He did damage today. He really, really did some damage today.”
Riethman was 2-for-3 with six RBIs.
Harlamert chuckled when asked if he thought Riethman was gunning for the walk-off homer.
“Why not?” he said, smiling. “Walk-off fashion. Money in the bank.”
It didn't take long for Coldwater to build its lead in the first inning. Noah Miller hit an RBI single to score Riethman, and a throwing error on the same play plated Wenning. Cole Frilling knocked in two more on a double to left field, and a balk with runners at the corners made it 5-0 to mark the end of the day for FRHS starter Riley Post after recording just one out.
Fort Recovery scored its lone run in the fifth inning by stringing together a bit of offense. Cole Grisez hit a one-out single, and Regan Martin walked. Riley Post reached on an error to load the bases before Cobe Wendel rocketed a liner up the middle that hit Coldwater relief pitcher Payton Goodwin and caromed toward the first base line as all runners advanced safely.
“Our kids took some pretty good swings, we just didn't get them at the right time,” Kaup said. “I thought we took some OK at bats. We played like we wanted to try to come back and win some innings and hopefully get back in the game.
“But Austin Riethman, a couple of those swings, and up in this wind, they were about gone.”
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