Redskins top Indians for first MAC win

FORT RECOVERY - St. Henry collected 13 hits on the day and Alexis Ontrop kept Fort Recovery scoreless through five innings as the Redskins won their first MAC softball game of the season with a 12-4 win over the Indians on a chilly and sometimes rainy day at Fort Recovery Middle School.

"We capitalized on some good pitches," St. Henry coach Kylie Huelsman said. "We were able to get a lot of girls around the bases."

The Redskins were able to jump out early on the Indians, scoring twice in the first inning on Jacey King's two-run single that scored Cara Brockman and Liz Uhlenhake.

The Indians got a solid defensive play as Kendra Rose lined out to Haley Knapke at shortstop, who threw to first to get the double play to end the second inning.

In the third, St. Henry sent 11 batters to the plate and scored five runs off Chelsea Timmerman, two coming in via wild pitches and another via a throwing error. Taylor Siegrist added an RBI double in the inning.

"It was a tough start," Fort Recovery coach Taylor Guggenbiller said. "I told the girls not to give up. We're just starting to build the program back."

St. Henry added two runs in the fifth and three more in the seventh.

Ontrop cruised through the first five innings, allowing just three hits and no walks during the stretch.

"Alexis was pitching pretty good today and (was) keeping them off the bases," Huelsman said. "That definitely helped."

Fort Recovery avoided the shutout and possible run-rule in the sixth as Devin Post drove in two runs with a single.

In the seventh, Ontrop got the first out before walking pinch-hitter Chloe Metzger, Timmerman and Audra Metzger in succession to bring up Post. This time, Post grounded back to Ontrop, who threw home for the force out. Haley Knapke reached on an error to bring in two runs and then Emily Hart reached on another error. St. Henry ended the game when Rose tagged pinch-runner Lauren Gehle at the plate as she tried to score on a wild pitch.

Despite the loss, Guggenbiller was pleased that her team kept battling.

"We've just got to connect the hits," Guggenbiller said. "This is the time to show we're not going to give up."

Brockman went 3-for-4 with four runs scored for St. Henry. King and Siegrist each added two base hits.

Devin Post had two of the five Fort Recovery hits.

Both teams are back in action today against Shelby County teams. St. Henry hosts Russia and Fort Recovery travels to Fort Loramie.