Indians rally to beat Bulldogs

FORT RECOVERY - Fort Recovery scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to regain the lead against Celina and then added three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to open the 2015 high school baseball season with a 7-3 win at the Indians' baseball field.

The Indians collected just two hits through the first five innings off Celina starter Jimmy Luebke but took advantage of five walks and one throwing error.

"He walked too many," Celina coach Andy Mikesell said. "He's a rhythm-kind of guy. You force him to go to the stretch, it breaks the rhythm a little bit."

Fort Recovery scored its first two runs in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Jacob Homan, who had played at Celina last season. Homan later scored on a throwing error to make it 2-0.

Indians pitcher Jackson Hobbs gave up three hits over the first two innings but came away unscathed. In the third, however, Celina found some holes as Tanner Freeman doubled and was followed by back-to-back singles from Seth Lonsway and Justin Keeling, with Keeling driving in two runs. Keeling later scored when Jacob Smalley reached on a fielder's choice to break the tie.

"We started out a little nervous," Fort Recovery coach Jerry Kaup said. "We had some communication errors early in the outfield and in the infield. I think we'll clean those up.

"Jackson can keep us in ballgames. We got down a run, but we felt confident that Jackson could keep us close and in the game and we had to battle back."

Fort Recovery responded in the bottom of the fifth. Chase Bruns walked and then stole second base. Mitch Stammen brought in the tying run with a single. Luebke enticed Cole Wendel to fly out to center before walking Hobbs. Homan grounded hard as Hobbs was forced at second but Homan was safe at first, allowing Stammen to score the go-ahead run.

"We got a little complacent," Mikesell said. "For some reason, we felt comfortable with the lead, and we shouldn't have, obviously. It's a young team. Our No. 1 goal is to learn from every game."

Shawn Rose came on to pitch the sixth for Celina and quickly loaded the bases on two singles and a walk. Chase Bruns brought in Kyle Schroer on a sacrifice fly. Stammen singled to load the bases again with Cole Wendel getting an RBI groundout. Rose hit Hobbs to load the bases for Homan, who was hit by a pitch to bring in the final run.

Hobbs retired Keeling to start the seventh but hit Luebke and Stephen Fleck. Kaup brought on Homan, who walked Smalley to load the bases before tagging out Luebke at the plate after a wild pitch. Then Homan enticed Chandler Kimmel to ground to third to end the game.

"He's certainly made it easier (after) losing a lot to graduation," Kaup said.

Luebke and Kimmel each had two hits for Celina. Stammen had two hits for Fort Recovery and Homan drove in three runs.

Both teams play road games today. Celina travels to Marion Local and Fort Recovery heads to Middle Point to face Lincolnview.