Indians’ rally sinks Lady ’Cats

By Jim Metcalfe, The Delphos Herald
Published:  Thursday, April 24, 2008 (5 months, 2 weeks ago)
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DELPHOS — Fort Recovery scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning versus Jefferson Tuesday night.
That was enough as the Lady Indians sank the Lady Wildcats 3-1 in fast-pitch softball action at Lady Wildcat Field in Delphos.
Senior starter Brooke Apple (0-3; 5 frames, 5 hits, 3 runs, 2 earned, 3 walks, 3 Ks) had cruised through four innings, scattering two hits.
However, with a 1-0 lead, she got in trouble in the fifth vs. the visitors (4-7). With one gone, Joanna Snyder sliced a sinking liner into center. Alexis Ricker tried to cut it off but the orb short-hopped her and slid by her for a triple. Heather Schmackers walked. An out hence, Ashley Grube beat out an infield hit off the glove of third sacker Shawna Bowers, juicing the bases. Beth May grounded a single to center to score Snyder and Schmackers; an error on the play got Grube to third and May ended up at second. A wild pitch plated Grube for the 3-1 lead.
“We kept asking Brooke how she was doing and she wanted to go one more inning. She did a good job for us but I think she started feeling the effects of getting hit in the face the night before as a catcher,” Jefferson coach Brad Rostorfer explained. “It hit her hard with feeling hot and just not feeling well. It didn’t help that we didn’t give her a lot of run support.”
Recovery reliever Beth Wenning got the save with two innings of 1-hit relief.
Shawna Bowers threw two innings of perfect relief for the Jeffcats, whiffing four.
Jefferson (2-6) got a 2-out walk to Ricker in the sixth but couldn’t score.
With two down in the seventh, Megan Moreo singled off the glove of Wenning and a wild pitch put her at second. However, a pop-up ended the contest.
“Defensively, we are making more progress. We’re making the simple plays you have to make to win softball games,” Rostorfer said. “It’s the little things, like knowing who’s going to get what ball, that we’re focused on. It’s all about confidence right now and that is growing for these youngsters.”
May got the win, throwing five innings (4 hits, 1 earned run).
The Indians had a chance to score first in the second when Carla Guggenbiller got to third with two down — double and wild pitch — but a strikeout left her there.
Jefferson took advantage of its chance in the home half. Jenna Miller was hit by a pitch and moved to second as Brittany Garza bounced out. A passed ball got her to third and she scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Alexis Ricker. Courtnie Rostorfer and Tiffany Culp had back-to-back singles but May got out of the frame with no further damage.
Jefferson loaded the bases with one out in the third: an Apple single, a Bowers single and Miller getting plunked again; but Apple was picked off third by an alert Val Fortkamp and a groundout ended it.
The Indians threatened big-time in the fourth. Fortkamp led off with an infield hit to short and stole second. Grube walked. May forced Fortkamp at third. An out hence, a passed ball moved runners up. Guggenbiller walked to load the bases but LeAnn Tobin popped out to the catcher to end the uprising.
“I saw something in pregame today that encouraged me. Some of the girls were having fun,” Rostorfer added. “They were doing things like flipping the ball. I want them to enjoy the game; when they do, they will get better because they’ll want to work at it more. That’s a good sign.”
Jefferson will host Allen East 5 p.m. Thursday. It has been moved from Lafayette due to lack of facilities.

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