Fifth inning gives Tribe fits in loss to Tigers

VERSAILLES, Ohio — One bad inning is all it takes to derail a game sometimes.

Fort Recovery High School’s baseball team gave up eight runs in the fifth inning as it lost to the Versailles Tigers 9-4 on Friday.

Fort Recovery (10-5, 2-4 Midwest Athletic Conference) held a 3-1 advantage heading into the fifth frame. The Tigers (12-5, 6-1 MAC) proceeded to score eight runs in the bottom half on five singles and five walks. FRHS got one run back in the seventh inning, but couldn't make a comeback.

Alex Gaerke suffered the loss after giving up eight runs on five hits and seven walks over 4 ⅔ innings on the bump.

Caden Grisez led the Tribe’s offense with two hits and two RBIs. He had a two-RBI double in the third inning, complemented by an RBI walk from Caden Homan. Gaerke drove in the final run on a single to left field.

Still undefeated

An 11-run fourth inning propelled the Jay County High School softball team to a 17-3 victory over the Adams Central Jets on Thursday to stay undefeated.

A trio of home runs powered the fourth inning as Jaelynn Lykins, Brenna Ruble and Jozey Shimp all sent balls over the fence for Jay County (10-0, 1-0 Allen County Athletic Conference). A Hallie Schwieterman single and a Carley Trinidad Double scored three more runs for the Patriots.

Adams Central (1-7, 1-2 ACAC) scored twice in the first inning and once in the third. Mallory Winner earned the win by pitching all five innings and only giving up five hits.

Lykins’ four RBIs led the offense, while Ruble and Shimp each had three. Ruble and Morgan Missicano each crossed home plate three times.

Near sweep

HARTFORD CITY — Jay County’s girls tennis team nearly swept Blackford as it beat the Bruins 4-1 on Thursday.

All three singles players, Brenna Bailey, Meredith Dirksen and Lilly Johnson, picked up wins for Jay County (3-4).

Bailey claimed the No. 1 singles position with a 6-4, 6-0 defeat of Evelyn Gulley. Dirksen took down Emily Ellison 6-0, 6-2 in the No. 2 singles contest, while Johnson beat McKenna Reed 6-2, 6-2.

Gretchen Link and Sophia Sprunger claimed the other victory as they took down Allyson Henderson and Karlie Pitts 6-4, 6-3 in the No. 2 singles contest.

Jay County’s sole loss came from Faith Faulkner and Raylah Newton as the No. 1 doubles duo fell 6-2, 6-3 to Jessica Brinkerhoff and Loralie Hile.

Tribe wins

FORT RECOVERY — The Fort Recovery softball team picked up its fourth Midwest Athletic Conference win of the season as it beat the Versailles Tigers 11-7 on Thursday.

The third inning made the difference for the Tribe (11-6, 4-1 MAC) as it put up seven runs on five hits, two walks, two sacrifice flies and an error.

FRHS also put runs on the Tigers (6-14, 1-4 MAC) in the first and sixth innings. Emma Will, Ella Schoen, Alexis Grisez, Kylie Post and Paisley Hart all tied for a game-high two RBIs. Grisez and Kayla Heitkamp each had three hits and Schoen joined the pair to score two runs.

Jenna Homan went the distance in the circle, giving up seven runs, only three of which were earned, on nine hits and one walk.

Held scoreless

The Jay County baseball team couldn’t get its offense going as it fell 3-0 to the Adams Central Jets on Thursday.

The Patriots (4-7, 1-1 ACAC) were held to just two hits in the contest. They came from Leighton Brown to lead off the game and Carter Fugiett in the third inning.

JCHS gave up two runs to Adams Central (8-6, 3-0 ACAC) in the third inning and one more in the seventh.

Kade Sommers suffered the loss after surrendering two unearned runs through 3 ⅔ innings of work. He struck out six batters and allowed three hits and a walk during his time on the mound.