Four Seasons slugfest

MINSTER - The way the game started, the Fort Recovery-Minster softball game had the makings of a high-octane offensive battle.

The host Wildcats held their end of the bargain, overcoming early errors and picking up a 14-4 run-rule victory over the Indians in Midwest Athletic Conference action at Four Seasons Park.

Minster picks up its third straight win to move to 14-2 and 2-1 in conference play. Fort Recovery drops to 8-5 and drops its share of the conference lead with St. Henry and Parkway at 2-1.

"We definitely hit the ball well and (Fort Recovery) put the ball into play, too," said Minster coach Kenleigh Ludlow. "I was glad to see our bats alive, especially since our defense didn't perform as normal."

The Indians got out to a good start as Minster committed three errors in the first two at-bats of the game. After a dropped foul pop gave her new life, Emma Will reached on an error. Ava Grisez bunted the ball, but the ball was misplayed to put two on for Jenna Homan. Minster pitcher Brooklyn Osterloh got the strikeout of her opposing pitcher, but the dropped ball forced a throw to first to complete the out, allowing Will to score. Osterloh then struck out the next two batters to end the threat.

Minster wasted no time in answering. Reece Albers and Rylin Trego had back-to-back singles. Albers came home on an errant throw down to third after a pitch for the tying run, then Addi Inskeep belted a triple to make it 2-1. Brooklyn Osterloh followed with a grounder to short, but the throw home was dropped to allow Inskeep to score to make it 3-1.

From there, the Wildcats added three runs in the second as Inskeep had an RBI double, Rylin Trego added an RBI single and another run came home on a wild pitch.

Fort Recovery got two runs back in the third as another Minster error on an Ava Grisez bunt attempt resulted in a run scoring. Homan then added an RBI single. Minster promptly added three runs in the bottom of the inning as Inskeep belted her seventh home run of the season with Albers and Rylin Trego on base to make it 9-3.

After Fort Recovery plated another run in the top of the fifth on a Homan RBI single, Minster closed out the game. Albers singled and Rylin Trego doubled. Inskeep, needing a single to hit for the cycle, was pointed to first base on the intentional walk. Brooklyn Osterloh was then walked to score Albers for the 10th run of the game. Lauren Tyler flew out to center, allowing Rylin Trego to score. Caroline Knapke reached on an error to score Inskeep to make it 12-4. Ansley Wolf got the Wildcats to match point with an RBI single to make it a 9-0 game. Alivia Heckman then reached on an error to load the bases for Whitney Trego, who drew a walk to score pinch-runner Brianna Osterloh to end the game.

"Capitalizing any way we can is important," said Ludlow. "Finding ways to score, especially after the other team scores, and being able to respond is something we continue to work on and preach to them."

"We did have a good start," said Fort Recovery coach Carrie Schoen. "Proud of the girls' effort today. Wasn't our day."

The top three batters in the Minster order: Albers, Rylin Trego and Inskeep, combined to go 9-of-10 with 11 runs scored and six RBI.

Homan had two of the five Fort Recovery hits.

Both teams are back in conference play on Thursday. Minster makes the trek to Rockford to face Parkway while Fort Recovery returns to the LeFevre Family Complex to host Coldwater.