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Fort Recovery's Ava Grisez, left, steps on second to force out Celina's Brooke Faber during Monday's game at Jim Hoess Field.
CELINA - Celina was in the mood for answers on Monday.
The Bulldogs answered each challenge Fort Recovery gave them and handed the Indians their first loss of the softball season in a hard-fought 4-3 decision at Jim Hoess Field as the Bulldogs improved to 3-1 on the spring. Fort Recovery takes the loss to go to 5-1.
The third and fourth innings proved to be the big innings for both teams in a game that was highlighted by solid pitching and good defense from both sides.
"I think offensively we came out and did the job when we needed to," said Celina coach Renee Williams. "We had some runners in scoring position that didn't always get across (the plate), but when it came time to do so, they got the job done."
"They were hitting the ball. In this wind the ball was dying," said Fort Recovery coach Carrie Schoen. "Jenna (Homan) pitched phenomenal."
Celina pitcher Colbie Kinney got the first two outs in the top of the third inning before Ava Grisez lined a 1-0 offering over the fence in right field for the first run of the game.
In the bottom of the third, Homan got the first out before Brooke Faber singled to center. Campbelle Gass grounded into a fielder's choice for the second out, then Maddie Allen hit a 1-2 pitch for a home run to right to make it 2-1.
Celina's Maddie Allen (in helmet) gets a hug from Paiton Rhodes after hitting a two-run home run in the third inning of Monday's game with Fort Recovery at Jim Hoess Field.
Fort Recovery quickly answered in the top of the fourth as Ella Schoen led off with a single, took second on a wild pitch and went to third on a passed ball. Kylie Post worked the count full before drawing a walk, then dashed to second during a lull in play; while the ball went down to second, Schoen dashed home to tie the game. Alexis Grisez followed with a double to right-center to score Post to make it 3-2 Indians.
Celina found the answer again as Paiton Rhodes led off the bottom of the fourth with a single. Avery Stachler laid down a perfect bunt that went for another single. After Homan got a strikeout, Alexis Siefring hit an infield single to the left side to score Rhodes to make it 3-3. Homan then got her second strikeout of the inning before Gass walked to load the bases for Allen, who grounded deep to short and beat the throw at first to score Jacci Felver, who came on to run for Stachler, to make it 4-3. Homan then recorded her third strikeout of the inning to end the threat.
"Offensively, one through nine (in the batting order), we've done a better job of putting the ball into play, getting line drives and doing the job we ask them to do."
"She didn't get down after (the home run), said coach Schoen of Homan, who had six strikeouts. "She went on to that next pitch."
Both teams had chances to add runs over the final three innings. Emma Will led off the fifth with a single, but Ava Grisez grounded to Gass at short, who turned the 6-3 double play. Kinney then got Homan to ground back to the pitcher to end the threat. The Bulldogs got a lead-off single in the bottom of the fifth, but Homan retired the next three batters in order. In the bottom of the sixth, Faber laced a one-out triple, but Gass lined to Ava Grisez, who then threw to third to double up Faber to end the threat.
In the seventh, Kinney quickly got the first two outs before Will singled and stole second to put the tying run in scoring position. Kinney then enticed Ava Grisez to ground to third to end the game.
"Colbie threw a great game, keeping batters off-balanced and doing what she needed to do" said Williams of Kinney, who walked three and struck out three. "Our outfield is tracking down balls and getting (to the ball) in the gaps."
"It was a hard-fought battle," said coach Schoen. "That's a real good team. I'm really proud of the girls how they played. It's cold, windy and we haven't played since last Tuesday. Had we had a few timely hits, it would have been a different ballgame."
Allen, Faber and Lily Gonzalez each had two hits for Celina, which had 10 hits on the night. Will, Ava Grisez and Alexis Grisez each had two hits for the Indians.
Celina opens Western Buckeye League play tonight as Defiance comes Jim Hoess Field. Fort Recovery is off until Thursday when Marion Local comes to the LeFevre Family Complex for the teams' Midwest Athletic Conference lidlifter.
