March 31, 2023 at 4:32 p.m.
Script flipped
Indians top Houston in five innings
Script flipped
By Andrew Balko-
HOUSTON, Ohio — The Indians got put down in a hurry, allowing two hits, four walks and three runs in the bottom of the first inning.
That’s how Monday’s 10-0, six-inning loss to Celina went.
Thursday was a different story for the Fort Recovery High School baseball team, as they flipped the script and got an early seven-run lead en route to a 13-2, five-inning victory over the Houston Wildcats.
“It feels good,” said FRHS junior Troy Homan, who hit his first career home run in the blowout win. “We have a talented group. We have the potential to do a lot … if we hit the ball we know we can win a lot of games.”
After getting shut out on only six hits against Celina, the Indians (1-1) came out in attack mode in the first inning against Houston (1-2).
Senior leadoff hitter Landon Post got the bats rolling with a single to right field and stole second base on the next pitch. Caden Grisez was then hit by a pitch to set up third baseman Wyatt Bihn, who blasted a ball to deep center field to score both Post and Grisez.
Cale Rammel followed Bihn’s double with a single past Houston third baseman Maddox Schutte to put runners on the corners. Homan then reached base on an error by first baseman Jeff Leist that brought Bihn home.
Riggs Tobe hit another ball to Schutte that was also thrown away, allowing both Rammel and Homan to score.
Houston managed to record two outs with a Daniel Patch walk in between, but Alex Dues then kept the Tribe’s big inning going with a double. In Post’s second at bat of the inning, another Schutte throwing error allowed Patch and Dues to score.
The Wildcats finally got out of the inning when Grisez grounded out to shortstop AJ Edwards.
“We’re trying to take a more aggressive approach at the plate,” FRHS coach Kevin Eyink said about the Indians’ hot start. “Trying to be more aggressive and they executed that tonight. It feels great. It gives these guys some confidence. We’ve gotta keep building on it and keep it going.”
The offense didn’t stop for the Indians after the first inning. They scored a run each in the third and fifth, as well as batting around in the fourth inning for another four runs. The first three batters of the fourth reached base, including singles for Bihn and Rammel. Homan then smacked his home run, a three-run shot.
“It feels amazing,” Homan said. “Pretty much all of my siblings have done it besides one of them. I was glad to join that group right there.”
The Indians performed well on the other side of the ball as well, only allowing four base runners and making one error.
Grisez made his first start on the mound for Fort Recovery and went the distance. He struck out the first five batters he faced before hitting Houston’s Jacob Moorman with a pitch.
The rest of the Wildcats’ offense came in the bottom of the third inning. Ethan Deinhart began the inning by reaching base on an error. After a fielder’s choice, Rusty Vondenhuevel hit a double to right field to score Houston’s first run. Vondenhuevel then stole third base before scoring on Reagan Steiner’s sacrifice fly. Grisez got out of the inning when Luke Beaver flied out to center field.
Grisez didn’t allow another Wildcat to reach base as he earned the win. He struck out eight while allowing two runs as he needed just 55 pitches to finish off Houston.
“The nerves were there the first inning,” Grisez said. “After that I was just in the zone. I really didn’t think much and was just pitching.”
Beaver suffered the loss for the Wildcats, allowing seven earned runs and two strikeouts in four innings.
Vandenhuevel was the Wildcats’ top hitter with a double, an RBI and a run.
Fort Recovery received great production at the plate from Bihn and Homan. Bihn had two hits, scored twice and drove in three runs. Homan also finished with two runs and three RBIs.
Having evened their record with a blowout win after getting thumped in the opener, the Indians are hoping to carry the momentum into home games tonight against Mississinawa Valley and Saturday against Crestview.
“That’s what we expect,” Eyink said. “Celina is a good opponent and it was going to be a challenge.
“We were hoping to perform better than that. This is more what we expect. Hopefully we keep it rolling into the next game.”
That’s how Monday’s 10-0, six-inning loss to Celina went.
Thursday was a different story for the Fort Recovery High School baseball team, as they flipped the script and got an early seven-run lead en route to a 13-2, five-inning victory over the Houston Wildcats.
“It feels good,” said FRHS junior Troy Homan, who hit his first career home run in the blowout win. “We have a talented group. We have the potential to do a lot … if we hit the ball we know we can win a lot of games.”
After getting shut out on only six hits against Celina, the Indians (1-1) came out in attack mode in the first inning against Houston (1-2).
Senior leadoff hitter Landon Post got the bats rolling with a single to right field and stole second base on the next pitch. Caden Grisez was then hit by a pitch to set up third baseman Wyatt Bihn, who blasted a ball to deep center field to score both Post and Grisez.
Cale Rammel followed Bihn’s double with a single past Houston third baseman Maddox Schutte to put runners on the corners. Homan then reached base on an error by first baseman Jeff Leist that brought Bihn home.
Riggs Tobe hit another ball to Schutte that was also thrown away, allowing both Rammel and Homan to score.
Houston managed to record two outs with a Daniel Patch walk in between, but Alex Dues then kept the Tribe’s big inning going with a double. In Post’s second at bat of the inning, another Schutte throwing error allowed Patch and Dues to score.
The Wildcats finally got out of the inning when Grisez grounded out to shortstop AJ Edwards.
“We’re trying to take a more aggressive approach at the plate,” FRHS coach Kevin Eyink said about the Indians’ hot start. “Trying to be more aggressive and they executed that tonight. It feels great. It gives these guys some confidence. We’ve gotta keep building on it and keep it going.”
The offense didn’t stop for the Indians after the first inning. They scored a run each in the third and fifth, as well as batting around in the fourth inning for another four runs. The first three batters of the fourth reached base, including singles for Bihn and Rammel. Homan then smacked his home run, a three-run shot.
“It feels amazing,” Homan said. “Pretty much all of my siblings have done it besides one of them. I was glad to join that group right there.”
The Indians performed well on the other side of the ball as well, only allowing four base runners and making one error.
Grisez made his first start on the mound for Fort Recovery and went the distance. He struck out the first five batters he faced before hitting Houston’s Jacob Moorman with a pitch.
The rest of the Wildcats’ offense came in the bottom of the third inning. Ethan Deinhart began the inning by reaching base on an error. After a fielder’s choice, Rusty Vondenhuevel hit a double to right field to score Houston’s first run. Vondenhuevel then stole third base before scoring on Reagan Steiner’s sacrifice fly. Grisez got out of the inning when Luke Beaver flied out to center field.
Grisez didn’t allow another Wildcat to reach base as he earned the win. He struck out eight while allowing two runs as he needed just 55 pitches to finish off Houston.
“The nerves were there the first inning,” Grisez said. “After that I was just in the zone. I really didn’t think much and was just pitching.”
Beaver suffered the loss for the Wildcats, allowing seven earned runs and two strikeouts in four innings.
Vandenhuevel was the Wildcats’ top hitter with a double, an RBI and a run.
Fort Recovery received great production at the plate from Bihn and Homan. Bihn had two hits, scored twice and drove in three runs. Homan also finished with two runs and three RBIs.
Having evened their record with a blowout win after getting thumped in the opener, the Indians are hoping to carry the momentum into home games tonight against Mississinawa Valley and Saturday against Crestview.
“That’s what we expect,” Eyink said. “Celina is a good opponent and it was going to be a challenge.
“We were hoping to perform better than that. This is more what we expect. Hopefully we keep it rolling into the next game.”
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