Fourth frame fateful for Fort

VAN WERT, Ohio — Ryan Thien couldn’t have scripted it any better.

The Indians, playing for just their third sectional title in the last 12 years, were leading the Lancers by one after three innings.

But that’s when the opposing batters started to time Tribe pitcher Jackie Homan.

Then things started to unravel from there.

The Fort Recovery High School softball team, seeded fifth in the district, surrendered five runs in the fourth inning and had their tournament dreams lanced with a 9-2 loss to host and No. 3 seed Lincolnview on Thursday in the Division IV Wapakoneta District sectional final.

“For three innings that game played out exactly how I wanted it to,” said Thien, whose team drops to 17-10 on the season but meets the Minster Wildcats on Saturday for a chance to share the Midwest Athletic Conference championship. “We played some small ball, got a couple runs across, Jackie was pitching great and then a couple of their hitters timed her up, got a few hits and then kind of the wheels fell off a little bit.”

Lincolnview coach Brad Doidge, whose Lancer squad improved to 22-3-1 and won its third consecutive sectional championship, was thankful for benefitting from an error that eventually gave the home team the lead it never relinquished.

“We kind of put a little pressure on their defense,” said Doidge, whose team advances to the district semifinal against No. 2 seed Crestview on Tuesday. “Routine ground ball helped us out; tips off her glove and then we were able to tack on from there. Just one little error and that was the ball game right there. Five runs came in.

“Super team, though. (The Indians) are good. They were bothersome for me. I know the kind of program (Thien) runs and how good the girls are down there. We just got a little fortunate with an error.”

As the Lancers trailed 2-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, Destiny Cil and Winter Boroff singled through the left side of the infield to start the frame, then Makayla Jackman drew a six-pitch walk — just the sixth free pass Homan had issued this season in more than 100 innings pitched.

Addysen Stevens hit a grounder to shortstop Chloey Grisez, whose throw to Cali Wendel was a little off the mark. Two Lancers scored on the play for a 3-2 LHS advantage. Consecutive bunts from Andi Webb and Annie Mendenhall loaded the bases again.

Kendall Mendenhall, who hit a solo home run in the third inning, grounded out, then Taylor Post hit a two-run single before being cut down trying to extend it into a double for the final out of the inning.

“I just told them to relax and just have fun,” Thien said of his plan to keep the Indians focused. “We were only down two runs at the time that inning, then it ended up being 6-2. Four runs we can make four runs up.

“Just couldn’t get the bat squared up on the ball, but when we did man, their outfield, they can move out there. They can cover some ground.”

Coil hit a solo homer in the fifth inning to put Lincolnview on top, 7-2, and the Lancers added a pair of runs in the sixth.

Doidge credited his offense, which combined for 13 hits off Homan and relief pitcher Sophie Pearson, for being patient at the plate.

“Just discipline at the plate,” he said. “Homan likes to paint the outside, especially against our left-handed hitters … Just got to be patient. She’s a good pitcher. Brenna (Homan) behind the plate calls a good game, so there’s a good sync between them.”

Coil led the Lancers with three hits, while Bollenbacher, Boroff and Webb each had two. Taylor Post and Bollenbacher each had two RBIs.

Fort Recovery jumped on top of Lincolnview 2-0 with a run in each of the first three innings.

Brenna Homan, who paced the Indians with two hits, started the game with a single and reached second base on a sacrifice bunt. A passed ball put Homan on third, and she scored on a Jackie Homan groundout.

Jackie Homan also grounded out in the third inning to score Kensey Gaerke, who had singled.

Although the Indians were bounced from postseason play, their season is not over. They travel to take on the Minster Wildcats at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, a game that was postponed April 29, for a share of the program’s first conference championship.

Minster, which is the No. 1 seed in the Wapakoneta District and plays fellow MAC foe Parkway in the district semifinal, is 5-1 in MAC play while Fort Recovery is 4-2.

A Minster win gives the ’Cats the outright championship, while a Tribe win means Fort Recovery, Minster and Coldwater (5-2) all share the title.

“At the beginning of the year our goal was to compete with every team in the MAC,” Thien said. “We’ve done that up to this point. Now we have a shot to actually earn a share of the MAC.

“They’ve known that. I don’t have to tell them that. I think we’ll be fine on Saturday.”