Tribe offense fuels victory

ST. HENRY, Ohio — The Indians got down early.

A five-run deficit wasn’t enough to hold them back as they slowly chipped away before taking a strong lead.

A five-run fifth inning both took away St. Henry’s lead and gave the Fort Recovery High School softball team some padding as it completed the comeback for a 14-9 victory on Tuesday.

The Indians (6-9, 3-5 MAC) scored three runs in the top of the first but lost it over the next two innings. St. Henry (6-8, 0-4 MAC) pushed two across in the first before exploding for six runs in the second inning.

FRHS chipped away in the third inning with one run and the fourth with three before the fifth inning takeover.

Alexis Grisez opened the inning with a walk to put the tying run on first base. St. Henry made a change in the circle, as it went to Jalynn Everman to take over. Everman started by striking out Cali Wendel.

Everman quickly put Kayla Heitkamp in an 0-2 count as the Fort Recovery junior fouled off two pitches. Heitkamp then reclaimed the lead for the Indians as she sent a home run over the centerfield wall.

Back-to-back doubles by Emma Will and Ava Grisez plated another run. The final two runs of the inning scored on a double by Jenna Homan and a wild pitch.

The Indians tacked on two more insurance runs in the seventh while St. Henry could only manage one.

Jenna Homan picked up the win as she went the distance for the Indians. She gave up nine runs on eight hits and four walks, while striking out eight batters on 125 pitches.

Everman suffered the loss for St. Henry as she gave up six runs, three of which were earned.

Heitkamp, Homan and Ava Grisez powered Fort Recovery’s offense. 

Grisez drove in two runs, scored three runs and notched four hits, including a solo home run in the third inning.

Homan also had four hits and three runs, while also tallying three RBIs.

Heitkamp drove in three runs and hit a home run.