Jay County baseball ends season with sectional semifinal loss

www.thecr.com The Commercial ReviewPage 10
Sports
Monday, June 1, 2015
Jay County golf hosts
Daleville on Tuesday,
see Sports on tap
Johnson wins at Dover
for record 10th time,
see story page 9
The Commercial Review/Chris Schanz
Jay County High School sophomores Jake Myers, left, and Jacob
Geesaman collided causing the the baseball, which is near Myers’ right leg, to
fall to the ground during the third inning of the Class 4A Sectional 6 semifinal
game against the Wayne Generals at Homestead. A trio of errors and a lack
of offense ended the Patriots’ season with a 7-1 loss to the Generals.
By CHRIS SCHANZ
The Commercial Review
FORT WAYNE — The Generals got
their offense going from the start.
It took the Patriots more than half the
game to put something together.
Jay County High School’s baseball
team recorded its first hit in the fifth
inning and couldn’t gain momentum in a
7-1 loss to the Wayne Generals in the
Class 4A Sectional 6 semifinal on Satur-
day at Homestead.
The Generals then lost to the host
Spartans 8-2 in the title game. Both the
semifinal and championship games were
delayed because of rain
“That has been the bugaboo of us all
year — when we didn’t win or we lost
some games we shouldn’t have — we had
runners in scoring position,” said JCHS
coach Lea Selvey, whose team has not
won a sectional championship since
2007, when it was a Class 3A school. The
Patriots drop to Class 3A next season.
“It’s not a lack of trying, but it’s a lack
from over-trying.”
Jay County (11-14) had runners on first
and second in each of the second and
fourth innings. Wayne pitcher Brian
Howell struck out Mitchell Kunkler to
end the threat in the second. After issu-
ing back-to-back one-out walks to Tanner
Reynolds and Chandler Jacks in the
fourth, Howell induced two fly outs to
prevent any damage.
The Patriots missed their chances
with runners on base, but they also had
trouble getting people on in the first
place.
“They’re trying to hit the three or five-
run homer and there’s nobody on,”
Selvey said. “From that aspect its frus-
trating.”
But at the same time, Howell pitched
well. The senior right-hander got Patriot
hitters to swing at balls thrown outside
of the strike zone. Three of those pitches
produced strikeouts.
“Brian has had good pitches all year,
it’s just a matter of him throwing
strikes,” said Wayne coach Todd Roberts.
The Generals lost to Jay County 11-1 in
their regular season meeting April 17 in
Portland. “It is also a matter of him hav-
ing the right mental state to play hard in
a game and know how important the sit-
uation is.
“He came in today with the idea of
throwing strikes. He didn’t let tough sit-
uations get to him and he battled
through situations with runners on base.
He did not give up.”
Howell gave up one earned run on four
hits. He struck out six and walked four in
6 2/3 innings.
See SSttuummbbllee page 9
JC stumbles in loss
Errors and lack
of offense end
Patriots’ season
PENNVILLE —
Rockand Beiswanger and
Samuel Wiggens both tal-
lied hat tricks Saturday
as the A.B.’s Tire Service
Hornets toppled the
Adair Processing Wasps
8-2 in Pennville Soccer
League’s Stinger divi-
sion.
Raif
Beiswanger
also tallied
two goals
for the Hornets.
Toby Wenger and Cam-
den Vinson each scored
for the Wasps.
In the Space division,
the Patriot Sportswear
Asteroids defeated Hanlin
Real Estate Galaxy, 2-1.
Jaylen McClain and Grif-
fin Elliot both scored for
the Asteroids, and Gabe
Pinkerton tallied the only
goal for the Galaxy.
The Galaxy then turned
around and defeated
Nate’s Kustom Painting &
Auto Body Repair Comets,
5-2. Addison Gaskill and
Pinkerton both scored
twice for the Galaxy, with
Jordan Russall notching
the other goal. Jacob Wal-
lace found the back of the
net twice for the Comets.
In the Wildcat division,
Adair Processing Jaguars
tied the Hanlin Real
Estate Tigers 3-3, then lost
7-3 to A.B.’s Tire Service
Lions.
Brenden Runyon had
two goals in each game,
with Sheldon Minch tally-
ing a score against the
Tigers.
See LLooccaall page 9
Hornets
soccer
beats
Wasps
Local
roundup
Editor’s note: This is the first
story in a series leading up to the
Fort Recovery High School base-
ball team’s state semifinal game
on Thursday. Each issue of The
Commercial Review will feature
a story and/or commentary on
the Indians’ run in the state tour-
nament.
By CHRIS SCHANZ
Veterans Field was a sea of
purple.
Carleton Davidson Stadium
was too.
The Indians travel well.
Fort Recovery High School’s
baseball team, which makes its
first trip to the state semifinals
in more than six decades, has
taken notice.
“It’s awesome to see (the fans)
out here, fill this place with pur-
ple,” FRHS junior Jackson
Hobbs said following the region-
al semifinal victory against
Lehman Catholic on Thursday.
Nearly two-thirds Wittenberg
University’s Carleton Davidson
Stadium was sporting Tribe pur-
ple.
Four days earlier, Kaup
praised the Tribe faithful for fill-
ing Veterans Field in Coldwater
for the district title game against
Minster. He did the same follow-
ing Thursday’s win in Spring-
field, Ohio.
Kaup and the players are
ecstatic, and the fans are as well.
Ed Werhkamp, who had
coached in the past with Kaup,
has attended every postseason
game. He made the short drive to
Coldwater, he made the longer
trek to Springfield and he’ll be in
Columbus at 4 p.m. Thursday
when the Indians meet Newark
Catholic.
“I’m very excited,” said
Wehrkamp. “They are just a
great bunch of kids. They all get
along together and they under-
stand what the goals are.”
John Grover went into more
detail about this Tribe squad,
first commenting on the five sen-
iors — Mitch Stammen, Derek
Backs, Nate Locthefeld, Cole
Wendel and Ben Will.
“The one thing I will say about
this senior class is the resiliency
and the mental toughness they
have,” said Grover, whose daugh-
ters Madison and Makayla are
Fort Recovery students. Madison
just finished her freshman year,
and Makayla graduated last
week. “There is not one super-
star. It is just … they all care
about one another.
See FF--RR page 9
‘We are, F-R’
‘It’s a small town in Ohio, or the Midwest. It’s what people talk
about in the barber shop. It’s what they talk about in the drug store.’
—Jerry Kaup, FRHS coach
Tribe fans enjoying run as much as players
Fort Recovery fans cheer as Kyle Schroer, left, is introduced prior to the start of the Division IV regional title game
Friday at Wittenberg University’s Carleton Davidson Stadium on Saturday in Springfield, Ohio. Tribe fans came out in droves
to support the baseball team during its run to the first regional championship in more than six decades.

Continued from page 10
Offensively, the Generals
(5-24) were hot from the
start. Tay Tay Moore and
Deyonne Hunter drew
walks in the first inning —
Hunter’s was with two outs
— and Jerry Mullins ripped
a pitch from Jake Myers
into right-center field for a
two-run double.
Bryson McKee had an
RBI single in the second
inning to put Wayne up 3-0,
and he also had a two-run
single in the third as part
of the Generals’ four-run
frame.
McKee finished with
three RBIs on two hits, and
Elija Mason tallied three
singles and scored twice.
Jacob Fisher also had an
RBI single in the inning,
during which the Patriots
committed a pair of errors.
Hunter hit a pop fly about
20 feet up the first base line
to lead off the inning.
Myers and Jay County
catcher Jacob Geesaman
both tried to play the ball
without calling one another
off.
Myers caught the ball,
but the two collided, dis-
lodging it from his glove.
During the next at bat,
Myers tried to pick off
Hunter at first, but his
throw got by Kunkler, let-
ting Hunter advance to
third.
“Any time that you can
put the ball in play, you’re
putting pressure on the
other team to make a play,”
Roberts said. “If someone
gives you an extra chance
to make a play like that you
have to capitalize. Fortu-
nately our guys (Saturday)
were able to capitalize on
those situations.”
Kunkler hit a single up
the middle to lead off the
top of the fifth inning,
breaking up Howell’s no-hit
bid. Kunkler advanced to
third on a passed ball and a
fielder’s choice, but he was
left stranded.
Jay County left six run-
ners in scoring position.
The Patriots scored their
only run of the game in the
seventh inning.
Kunkler notched his sec-
ond hit of the game and
scored on Levi Stant’s two-
out RBI single up the mid-
dle. Then with runners on
first and second and a 1-1
count to Levi Long, the
game was delayed because
of lightning.
After a 64-minute delay,
Long drew a walk off
reliever Braxton Riley to
load the bases, and
Reynolds popped out to the
first baseman in foul terri-
tory to end the game.
“I still think we’re the
better team,” Selvey said,
“but the better team doesn’t
always win in baseball.”
Monday, June 1, 2015 Sports Page 9
Box score
Jay County Patriots
vs. Wayne Generals
Class 4A Sectional 6
semifinal at Homestead
Jay County (11-14)
ab r h bi
Stigleman ss 3 0 0 0
Stant 2b 4 0 1 1
Long cf 4 0 1 0
Reynolds 3b 2 0 0 0
Ferguson pr 0 0 0 0
Jacks dh 1 0 0 0
JMyers p 0 0 0 0
Frasher cr 0 0 0 0
Geesaman c 3 0 0 0
Kohler rf 2 0 0 0
Kunkler 1b 3 1 2 0
EMyers lf 2 0 0 0
Vaughn ph 1 0 0 0
Totals 25 1 4 1
Wayne (5-24)
ab r h bi
Moore rf 3 1 0 0
McKee ss 3 0 2 3
Riley cf 4 0 1 0
Hunter c 3 0 0 0
Black cr 0 2 0 0
Mullins 1b 3 0 2 0
Fisher dh 3 1 1 1
Hartman 3b 0 0 0 0
Howell p 2 0 0 0
Warren cr 0 1 0 0
Mason 2b 4 2 3 0
Fletcher lf 0 0 0 1
Totals 25 7 9 5
Jay County 000 000 1 — 1
Wayne 214 000 X — 7
LOB — Jay County 9. Wayne 10.
2B — Wayne 1 (Mullins). SB —
Wayne 1 (Moore).
IP H R ER BB SO
Jay County
JMyers, L 2.1 5 7 5 2 2
Jacks 0.2 1 0 0 1 0
Reynolds 3 3 0 0 3 4
Wayne
Howell, W 6.2 4 1 1 4 6
Riley 0.1 0 0 0 1 0
Kyler Witt had four goals for
Lions, with Juan Pablo Wig-
gins also recording a hat trick.
Ryder Barger registered
three scores for the Tigers.
Dues powers
Isaac Dues hit a home run
Saturday, helping Pak-A-Sak
to a 10-1 victory against
Williams Auto Parts in Port-
land Junior League’s Rookie
baseball.
Mason Johnson and Carter
Barton both had triples for
Pak-A-Sak in the rain-short-
ened game. Austin Jellison
added a pair of doubles and
Layne Reidt added a double as
well.
Ryan Timmerman led Pak-
A-Sak with a pair of singles,
with Dawson Goldsworthy,
Cole Carpenter and Max
Klopfenstein each adding sin-
gles.
MainSource outlasts
MainSource Bank outlasted
Inman U-Lock 9-8 on Friday in
PJL’s Willie Mays action.
Trenton Webster paced
MainSource with a double
and two RBIs. Isaac Braun tal-
lied two singles and drove in a
pair of runs, with Keagan
Hartzell driving in one run on
two hits. Hartzell also pitched,
striking out five in three
innings.
Dawson Hundley, Sam
Myers and Ronnie Wagoner
each had a double and an RBI
for Inman. Myers struck out
six batters in two innings.
“It’s about being a good team-
mate,” he said.
It’s turned into success. The Indi-
ans are 25-5 and have won the pro-
gram’s first district and regional
championships since 1953. Their
tournament run has been bringing
fans to the games in droves.
Longtime supporters are show-
ing up, but new ones are too.
Wehrkamp is the former. Kath-
leen Woodard is the latter.
Woodard, who taught history
and special education at Fort
Recovery for nearly 30 years, began
following the team this season. She
is a close family friend of junior
shortstop Jacob Homan and his
freshman brother Ben.
“I think it’s fantastic,” she said
of the Tribe’s unlikely tournament
run. “It has brought a lot of inspi-
ration to the town. Normally it’s
always been basketball. It’s nice to
see baseball as the rising sport.”
Again, Grover offered more.
“Their success is bringing all
generations together,” said Grover,
who did not grow up in Fort Recov-
ery like his children have. “It’s just
kind of blending the town together.
It’s unifying the community. It’s a
really neat thing to be a part of.
“… It’s a testimony of how close
our community is and how much
we care for one another.”
Caring, supportive and compas-
sionate — three traits necessary
for any fan base.
All three were prevalent in the
back-and-forth nature of Friday’s
regional championship.
After the three-run first inning
for the Indians, it seemed as if they
were going to cruise to the champi-
onship.
But Cincinnati Country Day
responded with a three-spot of its
own in the second, only to see Fort
Recovery match it in the bottom
half of the frame.
The roller coaster of emotions
had already begun for the Tribe
and its fans.
Country Day scored four runs in
the third for a 7-6 lead, again send-
ing Fort Recovery’s followers into
panic mode.
Slowly, FRHS got momentum in
its favor. A run in the fourth tied
the game at seven until CCD plated
a pair of runs in the sixth for a 9-7
lead.
It was almost the end of the road
for Fort Recovery.
But the resilience Grover men-
tioned showed. The Tribe
scratched across four runs in the
sixth with a perfectly placed
squeeze bunt and having Stammen
— the best base-stealer in FRHS
history — get mixed up in a run-
down to let Will plate the eventual
game-winning run.
Thrilling for everyone wearing
purple at Carleton Davidson Stadi-
um.
“It was very intense and very
fun,” said Thresa Lennartz, whose
8-year-old son Eli is a bat boy.
“Everyone is in a little bit of a
shock they got this far.”
What won’t be a shock, however,
will be the sea of purple at Hunt-
ington Park in Columbus. They’ll
be donned with shirts that read
“One Town. One Team. One
Dream.”
They’ll be screaming too.
“Let’s go Indians.”
“We are F-R.”
The dream continues Thursday.
“It’s a small town in Ohio, or the
Midwest,” Kaup said following the
victory against Minster. “It’s what
people talk about in the barber
shop. It’s what they talk about in
the drug store.
“So we’re thrilled to be a part of
it.”
You’re not the only one, Jerry.
Stumble ...
Outlasting
DETROIT —
Sebastien Bourdais
raced to his first Indy-
Car victory of the sea-
son Sunday, outlast-
ing Takuma Sato in a
caution-filled ending
at Belle Isle.
Bourdais held on in
his No. 11 Chevrolet
in a race that was
shortened from 70
laps to 68 because of a
two-hour time limit.
The first caution did-
n’t come until lap 37,
but there were eight
caution periods in all
— as well as a red flag
with 5:33 remaining
on the clock.
Bourdais led com-
ing out of the final
caution and had little
trouble staying in
front. The French dri-
ver’s final lap of 1
minute, 17.9133 sec-
onds was the fastest
for anyone on the day.
Graham Rahal fin-
ished third. Indy 500
winner Juan Pablo
Montoya was award-
ed the pole based on
entry points when
qualifying Sunday
morning was halted
by bad weather. Mon-
toya finished 10th.
Carlos Munoz, who
won Saturday’s rain-
shortened race, fin-
ished last Sunday.
Completed
CINCINNATI —
Todd Frazier and
Brandon Phillips
each homered and
drove in two runs and
the Cincinnati Reds
completed a three-
game sweep of the
Washington Nation-
als with an 8-2 win on
Sunday.
Phillips snapped a
2-2 tie with an RBI
single off Aaron Bar-
rett (3-1) in the sev-
enth inning, and Fra-
zier followed with a
run-scoring double,
sparking a six-run
inning.
The Reds have won
four of their past five
games after a nine-
game losing streak
and swept the NL East
leaders for the first
time since Aug. 26-28,
2011.
The Reds have won
three straight games
for the first time since
May 12-14. The
Nationals have lost
three straight games
for the first time since
a six-game losing
streak from April 22
through April 27.
—Associated Press
In review
Jay County High School senior second baseman Levi Stant, left,
throws to first to complete a double play ahead of Wayne’s Jerry Mullins during
the sixth inning of the Class 4A Sectional 6 semifinal at Homestead. Jay
County lost to Wayne, 7-1.
F-R ...
‘Their success is bringing all
generations together. It’s just kind
of blending the town together. It’s
unifying the community. It’s a
really neat thing to be a part of.’
—John Grover,
FRHS baseball fan
Local ...
Local schedule
TTuueessddaayy
Jay County — Golf vs. Daleville –
4:30 p.m.
Portland Rockets at Grand Lake
Mariners – 7 p.m.
TThhuurrssddaayy
Fort Recovery — Baseball vs.
Newark Catholic in state semifinal at
Huntington Park in Columbus – 4 p.m.
SSaattuurrddaayy
Hicksville/Berlin Central Western
Reserve in state championship at Hunt-
ington Park in Columbus – 1 p.m.
Portland Rockets doubleheader vs.
Northeast Kekionga – 1 p.m.
SSuunnddaayy
Grand Lake Mariners – 1 p.m.
TV schedule
TTooddaayy
8 p.m. — Major League Baseball:
Milwaukee Brewers at St. Louis Cardi-
nals (ESPN)
8 p.m. — College Softball: NCAA
World Series Championship – Game 1
(ESPN2)
TTuueessddaayy
5 p.m. — Soccer: International
Friendly – Teams TBA (ESPN2)
World Series Championship – Game 2
(ESPN)
WWeeddnneessddaayy
8 a.m. — Tennis: 2-15 French Open
– Men’s and women’s quarterfinal
(ESPN2)
Chicago Cubs at Miami Marlins (WNDY-
23)
8 p.m. — Hockey: 2015 Stanley Cup
Final – Chicago Blackhawks at Tampa
Bay Lightning, Game 1 (NBC-2,13,33)
World Series Championship – Game 3 if
necessary (ESPN)
Los Angeles Dodgers at Colorado Rock-
ies (ESPN2)
Local notes
EElleemmeennttaarryy ccaammpp sseett ffoorr TTuueessddaayy
Jay County High School’s boys bas-
ketball program will host an instruction-
al camp for elementary school students
Tuesday through June 5.
The camp is open to boys in kinder-
garten through fifth grade, and it will be
from 10:30 a.m. to noon each day in
the auxiliary gym at JCHS.
Cost is $40 per participant, or $60
for two from the same family, and price
includes a camp shirt.
For more information, contact JCHS
coach Craig Teagle at (260) 726-9806.
AAdduulltt llaapp sswwiimm bbeeggiinnss TTuueessddaayy
There will be adult lap swim ses-
sions on Tuesdays and Thursdays
beginning Tuesday.
Cost is $2 per session or $25 for a
season pass, and is open to adults 18-
and-older.
The swim will be from 6:30 to 7:30
a.m. at the Jay County High School
pool.
The sessions will go through July,
and will be for lap swim only, not recre-
ational use.
JJCCHHSS bbaasseebbaallll ttoo hhoolldd cclliinniicc
The Jay County High School baseball
team will hold a camp from June 8
through 10.
Cost is $30 per participant and $50
for two from the same family, and each
participant will receive a shirt.
There will be three sessions each
day. The first session is from 8 to 9:30
a.m. and is for first through third
graders. The second session is from 10
to 11:30 a.m. and is for fourth and fifth
graders. Sixth through eighth graders
will be in the third session from 1 to
2:30 p.m.
coach Lea Selvey at (260) 726-9806.
PPaattrriioottss ttoo hhoolldd ssoocccceerr cclliinniicc
Jay County High School’s soccer
teams will host a two-day clinic June 17
and 18.
The clinic includes skill development
and instructional training led by the sec-
tional champion JCHS soccer coaches
and players.
Cost is $25, and it is open to boys
and girls in grades three through eight.
The clinic will be from 10 a.m. to
noon at the JCHS soccer field.
Sports on tap
By DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer
DOVER, Del. — Jimmie
Johnson took the congratula-
tory call from his boss, then
flipped the phone for a selfie.
The six-time series champ
and crew chief Chad Knaus
sandwiched the 60-pound tro-
phy and smiled for a familiar
photo.
“You’ve only got 10 of ‘em,”
a fan yelled at the victory lane
celebration.
Johnson said: “We’ll keep
them coming!”
Johnson had already mas-
tered the Monster Mile like no
other driver. His latest win
earned him a slice of
NASCAR history that etched
his name in the same class as
five Hall of Fame drivers.
With his No. 48 Chevrolet on
cold tires, Johnson got hot
down the stretch Sunday to
win at Dover International
Speedway and become the
fifth driver with 10 or more
Sprint Cup victories at a sin-
gle track.
“It was cool to have a track
that I enjoyed so much turn
into a track I could win at,”
Johnson said. “We’ve been
able to keep that feeling going
for a lot of years.”
Unlike his other nine Dover
wins when he led at least 175
laps in each race, Johnson led
only 23 laps for this perfect 10.
Johnson has 10 wins in 27
career starts on the concrete
mile track. He needed five
extra laps beyond the sched-
uled 400 because a late acci-
dent brought out the caution.
He has four wins this sea-
son, 74 in his career and has
won at least four times in a
season 11 times.
On deck, Johnson could
catch Dale Earnhardt for sev-
enth on the career wins list
with 76.
“It’s right there in front of
me, so I look at it and think,
wow, this is incredible,” John-
son said. “Yes, it’s a priority
for me and something I want
to do. But I’m almost in shock
that we’re there. Seventy-four
race wins, 10 here, you can’t
dream that big.”
Johnson drank a beer in
victory lane and took a quick
call from team owner Rick
Hendrick.
“I know what I’m capable of
and felt just fine doing it,”
Johnson said. “And, I’ve got a
great rhythm. I’ve got great
support at home.”
No active driver owns a
track like Johnson does in
Dover.
Johnson makes history at Dover

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Sports
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Tribe baseball team
has come a long way,
see Rays of Insight
Colts’ Mathis expects
to be ready for opener,
see In Review page 9
Editor’s note: This is the
second story in a series
leading up to the Fort
Recovery High School base-
ball team’s state semifinal
game on Thursday. Each
issue of The Commercial
Review will feature a story
and/or commentary on the
Indians’ run in the state
tournament.
By CHRIS SCHANZ
Every successful team
has its stars.
They’re the players who
get the recognition — their
picture in the newspaper,
interviews on television,
and so on.
See AAcccceeppttiinngg page 9
Tribe players
accepting roles
Non-starters
still find
ways to
contribute
Fort Recovery High
School freshman Cade
Wendel delivers a pitch
during the fourth inning
against Cincinnati
Country Day during the
Division IV regional
championship game on
Saturday at Wittenberg
University’s Carleton
Davidson Stadium in
Springfield, Ohio.
Wendel has played an
important role as a
reserve player, helping
the Indians to a No. 2
ranking and a berth in
the state finals for the
first time since 1953.

Tuesday, June 2, 2015 Sports Page 9
Mathis plans
INDIANAPOLIS —
Indianapolis Colts
defensive end Robert
Mathis says his reha-
bilitation from a torn
Achilles tendon is
ahead of schedule
and that he plans to
be ready for the sea-
son opener in Septem-
ber.
Mathis injured his
left leg while training
in Atlanta last fall.
The injury occurred
while he was serving
a four-game suspen-
sion for using a fertil-
ity drug.
The Colts’ all-time
leader in sacks told
WTHR that he is run-
ning again and that
training and rehabili-
tation are “in full
swing.”
To introduce
CHICAGO — The
Bulls plan to intro-
duce Iowa State’s
Fred Hoiberg as their
new coach today, a
person familiar with
the situation told The
Associated Press.
Hoiberg had long
been rumored as the
replacement for Tom
Thibodeau, who was
fired last week after
five seasons in Chica-
go.
The Bulls said in a
release they would
make a major
announcement today.
Hoiberg went 115-56
with the Cyclones,
including four
straight NCAA Tour-
nament appearances
and back-to-back Big
12 tournament titles.
He had open-heart
surgery in April.
Reversing
BIRMINGHAM,
Ala. — UAB President
Ray Watts said he is
bringing the football
program back as
early as 2016, revers-
ing a decision to shut
it down because it
was too expensive.
Watts cited renewed
financial commit-
ment from support-
ers, students and the
city as reasons for the
change of heart.
He said donors have
pledged to make up
the projected $17.2
million deficit over
the next five years if
football is restored,
Watts told The Associ-
ated Press he decided
in the morning to
reverse the earlier
decision after meet-
ings with UAB sup-
porters continued
through the weekend.
—Associated Press
In review
By RAY COONEY
Two wins.
Do you remember when that
was a season for the Indians?
It wasn’t that long ago.
In 2011, the Fort Recovery High
School baseball team managed
just two wins — 2-17. It had won
only three games a year earlier,
two of which came following sec-
tional elimination.
Both of those teams lost their
opening tournament game.
Now, just four years later, the
Indians find themselves two wins
away from a state championship.
“It’s incredible,” said FRHS
senior Mitch Stammen.
He’s right. And it’s almost
impossible to overstate how
incredible it really is.
After a run of three straight
sectional titles from 2006 to 2008,
Fort Recovery’s baseball program
had fallen apart. It was on the
verge of extinction.
There was no junior varsity
team. There were barely enough
players to fill a varsity roster.
The idea of not fielding a team
in 2011 was a real possibility. But
Jerry Kaup, who had been an
assistant coach with the baseball
and softball teams for more than
a decade, didn’t want to see that
happen.
So he accepted the job, becom-
ing the team’s fourth coach in five
seasons.
In taking the reins, he talked
not about strikeout totals, batting
averages or stolen bases. And he
certainly didn’t mention wins.
His philosophy was about
building something stronger —
trust.
“Baseball’s a team game,” said
Kaup. “And so you have to depend
on your teammates. You have to
trust your teammates. You have
to trust the coach. You can’t be
selfish.
“You can’t be selfish,” he
added, repeating the phrase for
emphasis. “You have to trust the
fabric of the team and hope that
everybody can become success-
ful.”
But success didn’t come easily.
Take a look back at the 2011
team photo. There are 11 players,
about half of whom were fresh-
men, and two coaches — assistant
Harold Fiely and Kaup.
“That first year was just
awful,” said Fiely, whose son,
Cody endured the three-win sea-
son as a senior a year earlier. “It
was so hard, because we were
begging kids to play.
“By the time we got to our third
year, we … started getting better.
And our fourth year, last year,
was tremendous. … It’s just hard
to understand. It’s incredible how
we went from the bottom to this.”
As a freshman and sophomore,
Shane Pottkotter endured both
the 2010 and ’11 seasons, years in
which the team went a combined
5-35. That’s a lot of losing for a
young player, or any player, to
endure.
The thought of state champi-
onships, or anything close, was
unimaginable.
“When I was in school, I was
dreaming about winning section-
als,” said Pottkotter, who is now a
volunteer assistant with the
team. “This journey has just been
kind of amazing really.”
The progress started in Kaup’s
second season, when the Indians
won nine games.
It wasn’t anything to get excit-
ed about outside of Fort Recovery,
but it was nearly twice as many
victories as the team had earned
in the previous two years com-
bined. It was a big first step.
Fort Recovery got back above
.500 a year later, finishing 14-13.
And then last season the program
took off, winning 20 games.
Derek Backs and his fellow sen-
iors — Nate Lochtefeld, Ben Will,
Cole Wendel and Stammen — saw
the entire climb, having entered
the program in 2012 after the
struggles of the previous two sea-
sons.
“The whole mentality of this
program has changed,” Backs
said. “There wasn’t really any
hype about baseball. Yeah, I love
the game, so I knew I was going to
play it, but … nobody really came
to the games besides parents. And
now we have ‘pack the park’
nights … People just love the
game now and they love support-
ing our team … And that’s fun.”
A season like the Indians have
put together this year will do that.
They won their first 17 games.
They were ranked No. 1 in Divi-
sion IV for most of the season.
And their run through the tour-
nament has pushed them to a
school-record win total — 25.
Now, as the Tribe prepares to
take the field Thursday at Hunt-
ington Park in Columbus against
Newark Catholic, it all comes
back to that little number.
Two wins.
Not so long ago, they meant lit-
tle. They were brief respites from
the norm, aberrations that meant
little as losses piled up around
them.
Now they could mean every-
thing. They would complete a sto-
rybook season for a state champi-
onship, earn a place in Fort
Recovery lore and make memo-
ries to last a lifetime.
It’s been an incredible journey
for the Indians, from the dol-
drums in 2011 to the brink of
being crowned the best small-
school baseball team in Ohio. It’s
been built on hard work, team-
work, and, yes, trust.
All of those things and so much
more — pitching, hitting, defense
— must come together this week
for Fort Recovery to complete its
climb to the top. It now comes
down to that simple goal, that
humble place this program came
from just four short years ago.
Two wins.
Tribe baseball has come a long way
Rays of
Insight ‘The whole mentality of this program
has changed. There wasn’t really any
hype about baseball. ... People just love
the game now they love supporting our
team. ... And that’s fun.”
—Derek Backs,
FRHS senior
Without them, teams
wouldn’t win a district or
regional title for the first
time in six decades.
Sure, they’re important.
But just as essential are
the role players — those
who don’t crack the start-
ing lineup but still con-
tribute in big ways.
Take Fort Recovery High
School freshman Will
Homan, for example.
The speedster entered as
a courtesy runner in the
third inning of the district
championship game May 24
against Minster with the
score tied at two.
Three consecutive wild
pitches later, Homan scored
the eventual game-winning
run. (The Tribe tacked on
four more in a 7-2 victory.)
“It was a great feeling,”
Homan said, reflecting on
just the second of three
runs he’s scored this sea-
son. “Probably one of the
greatest of my life as of
now.”
His older brother Ross, a
junior, and freshman Cade
Wendel make up a trio of
guys who have not gotten to
see the field every day, but
are still called upon during
pressure situations to con-
tribute.
Will Homan’s base run-
ning against Minster is a
prime example. Wendel
coming in to pitch in relief
during the regional cham-
pionship game Saturday
against Cincinnati Country
Day is another.
“When I have those guys
in the dugout they give me
a lot of flexibility with
game management,” said
FRHS coach Jerry Kaup,
who has led the Tribe to the
first district and regional
championship since 1953,
and plays Newark Catholic
at 4 p.m. Thursday in the
Division IV state semifinal
at Huntington Park in
Columbus, Ohio. “When we
were playing a lot of games
throughout the week, the
really good thing about
either of them is I could use
them in a lot of situations.
“(It) certainly gives me a
better chance at success.”
It can be easy for a player
to hang his head when he
sees himself left out of the
starting lineup day in and
day out.
Ross Homan, who has
seen action in 18 of the
Indians’ 30 games this sea-
son, isn’t one of them.
“I’m definitely not an
everyday guy,” he said.
But he’s OK with his role.
He’s come to accept it.
“You can look at it as a
good thing or a bad thing,”
he added. “Being on a state-
qualifying team, I’d say it’s
a pretty good thing.”
He then went on to talk
about what it’s like to have
a crucial, behind-the-
scenes role on a team that is
two games away from a
state championship.
“It’s a great feeling,” he
said. “A bunch of people
over the weekend asked me
about it. I really didn’t have
many words for it because
it’s just awesome.
“There (are) no words for
it. It’s a one-of-a-kind oppor-
tunity.”
Ross Homan is the epito-
me of a utility player. He
enters the game as a pinch
runner, but he can also be
put in nearly anywhere on
the field.
Wendel is one of two left-
handed hitters on the team
— the other is his brother
Cole — and recently he has
been used as the team’s des-
ignated hitter.
He pitches too. He is 1-1
on the season in eight
appearances, and has con-
verted both of his save
opportunities, having
tossed 19 1/3 innings.
He doesn’t have gaudy
numbers — he boasts a 2.53
ERA, has given up 17 hits,
walked eight and struck out
a baker’s dozen — but he’s
effective. Saturday against
Country Day, he scattered
three hits over three
innings and allowed one
earned run.
“It was a big situation,”
said Cole Wendel, who
started the game on the
mound but didn’t make it
out of the second inning.
“He came in, I thought he
really clutched up and real-
ly took control. It was pret-
ty impressive for a fresh-
man.”
The younger Wendel
made the most of his oppor-
tunity.
Ross and Will Homan
have done the same.
Their duties each game
go beyond their perform-
ance on the diamond. Their
presence in the dugout is
just as important.
“Other than the on-field
stuff, which is what every-
body sees in the crowd … in
the dugout they bring a lot
of positive energy,” Cole
Wendel said. “Will is
always in there screaming
stuff. We always have Ross
in there trying to keep (us)
positive. He won’t let your
head hang.”
Will Homan can be loud.
Ross can be just as vocal.
“The biggest thing is
when we’re in the dugout is
to make a lot of noise and
keep the energy in the
game,” Ross said. “Keep the
energy up in the dugout. It
doesn’t matter if you’re up
100 or down 100 you have to
keep playing the same.”
But how do those guys
prepare for when Kaup
calls their number?
“Make sure your head’s
in the game,” Ross said. “I
stretch every inning in the
dugout to make sure I’m
ready to go whenever I’m
called on.”
Will agrees.
“You always have to be
ready to come in,” he said.
“When you’re not in the
game, you always have to
cheer on your teammates
and do as much as you can
do on that day.”
By JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer
OAKLAND, Calif. — When NBA
union chief Michele Roberts
watched Stephen Curry return to a
game after his head slammed
against the floor and he walked
woozily to the locker room, she
immediately took a closer look the
league’s concussion protocols.
Two nights later, when Curry’s
Golden State teammate Klay
Thompson was cleared to return
after being kneed in the head only
to later be diagnosed with a con-
cussion, her reaction was much
stronger.
“It mortified me,” she said.
Now Roberts wants to take a clos-
er look. The union has hired neu-
rologists to examine the policy and
determine whether any changes
are needed to prevent players from
playing with an undiagnosed con-
cussion.
With the two high-profile head
injuries in less than a week, the
NBA is taking its turn in the con-
cussion cross-hairs that are more
often focused on the NFL and NHL.
The director of the league’s con-
cussion program, Dr. Jeffrey
Kutcher, said the Warriors handled
both instances properly even
though Thompson later was diag-
nosed with a concussion.
Roberts is not convinced that
players shouldn’t be held out
longer after being hit in the head
out of caution. While stressing she
is a lawyer, not a doctor, and that
she will wait to hear what the med-
ical experts tell her, she also said
one player being allowed back in a
game with a concussion is too
many.
“That number is sufficient to
make us all look at whether we
want to risk a player’s health for a
game,” she said. “To say it happens
so rarely or doesn’t happen fre-
quently enough to change the rules
is not enough. We’re talking poten-
tially about someone’s life. I don’t
think we should play an odds game
when it comes to player’s life.”
When a player is suspected of
having a possible concussion, team
doctors or athletic trainers test a
player’s short-term memory and
recall with cognitive tests, test bal-
ance and coordination, and make
other observations based on the
injury and the mannerisms of a
player.
Still, brain injuries aren’t as eas-
ily detected as a knee or ankle
injury.
Kutcher said about 25 percent of
concussions don’t show symptoms
until hours — or even a day — after
the injury.
NBA union to investigate concussions
Associated Press/Tony Avelar
This May 27 photo shows Golden State Warriors guard
Klay Thompson on the court after being injured during the
second half of Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against
the Houston Rockets in Oakland, Calif.
Accepting ...
‘I’m definitely not an every day guy. You can look
at it as a good thing or a bad thing. Being on a
state-qualifying team, I’d say it’s a good thing.’
—Ross Homan,
FRHS junior
Local notes
CChhaalllleennggee ccoonnttiinnuueess SSaattuurrddaayy
The Adams County Run/Walk Chal-
lenge continues Saturday.
The series features eight races within
Adams County.
The next race is the Monroe Lions Club
5K Run/Walk. The race will begin at 8:15
a.m. on the east side of Adams Central
High School in Monroe.
For more information, contact Al Arnold
at (260) 692-6610, or visit
www.adamscounty5kchallenge.com.
JJCCHHSS bbaasseebbaallll ttoo hhoolldd cclliinniicc
team will hold a camp from June 8 through
10.
Cost is $30 per participant and $50 for
two from the same family, and each partic-
ipant will receive a shirt. The camp is open
for children in first through eighth grade.
NNiigghhtt GGllooww 55KK iiss JJuunnee 1133
The next race in the Run Jay County 5K
Circuit will be the Night Glow 5K on June
13.
Registration begins at 8:30 p.m. at
the Votaw Street entrance of Jay County
Fairgrounds. Cost is $30, or $35 with a
tshirt.
The race will be electronically timed,
and there will be a cash prize for the best
glow-in-the-dark runner.
PPaattrriioottss ttoo hhoolldd ssoocccceerr cclliinniicc
and 18.
and players.
Cost is $25, and it is open to boys and
girls in grades three through eight.
The clinic will be from 10 a.m. to noon
at the JCHS soccer field.
Sports on tap

The Meadows
Apts
One and Two Bedroom
300 E. South St.
Penviller, IN
NOW accepting
Applications
Criminal Background check
& Landlord references
required
Applications can be picked
up in the Admissions box,
Apt. 5 Office
Office Hours
Thursday 9-3
This institution is an Equal
opportunity Employer & Provider
260-731-2090
TTD 1-800-743-3333
Community Focus
Group Meetings
for the
Stellar Communities Designation
Here is the schedule: June 10th at
West Jay Community Center
4:30 DIG Group and Elected Officials
5:30 Beautification Committee, Improvement
Committee, Glass Days Committee,
Dunkirk Foundation Board of Directors,
WJCC Board, and Library Board
6:30 Community Members
Everyone Welcome!
SDG will facilitate these meetings.
Sports
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Jay County golfers top
Daleville in finale,
see story page 9
Esparza hits grand slam
to help Barnett’s in win,
see Junior League roundup
Line
Drives
By CHRIS SCHANZ
Ask anyone on the Fort
Recovery High School
baseball team and they
will give you the same
answer.
“Laid back.”
“Relaxed.”
Take one look at the
guy, and it is easy to see
what they mean.
Watch him in action,
manning the coaching
box down the third base
line or nearly walking on
the field to give his
defense instructions, his
knowledge for the game
shows.
What he’s done in five
years leading the Indians
has earned him the
respect of his peers.
“I can’t say enough
about Jerry Kaup,” said
St. Henry coach John
Dorner following his
team’s 2-0 victory May 8
against the Indians.
“What he’s done with this
program here, to be (then)
No. 1 in the state … He has
done a tremendous job
with this program and I
wish him luck.
“I think (Fort Recovery)
can go a long way in the
tournament this year.”
See DDrriivveess page 9
Tribe’s
leader
calm,
relaxed
Editor’s note: This is the third
story in a series leading up to the
Fort Recovery High School base-
ball team’s state semifinal game on
Thursday. Each issue of The Com-
mercial Review will feature a story
and/or commentary on the Indi-
ans’ run in the state tournament.
By CHRIS SCHANZ
Teams don’t get to the state
finals without a long and taxing
journey.
Whether a team goes undefeated
or gets hot for the postseason, no
path is classified as “easy.”
Fort Recovery High School’s
baseball team has had a tough
road. It included a winning streak
that broke school records. It saw
the run get snapped. The Tribe
even lost back-to-back games —
twice.
The Indians were in position to
win the program’s first Midwest
Athletic Conference champi-
onship.
But as that slipped away with a
loss to eventual MAC champion St.
Henry, the Tribe turned its focus to
bigger things.
And here it is — two games away
from the program’s first state
championship and the first title for
Fort Recovery in any sport in more
than two decades.
Here’s a look back at the Indi-
ans’ 25-5 record and how they put
themselves in the driver’s seat to a
Division IV state championship.
The streak
In the past, some Fort Recovery
teams dreamed of winning 17
games in a season — maybe even
multiple seasons.
The Tribe began 2015 with 17
straight wins.
“The winning streak was a kind
of a pleasant surprise,” said FRHS
coach Jerry Kaup. He and the Indi-
ans were a month into the season
before suffering their first loss.
“To win 17 games in a row you
have to use the whole team. You
can’t rely on one guy. That is when
we realized we had a team that was
going to fit together well.
During that time, Fort Recovery
surpassed two records — the most
wins to begin a season (previous
was 11) and the longest winning
streak in program history (old
record was 13).
Perhaps the biggest of those 17
wins was April 28 on the road
against Coldwater.
The Indians knocked off the
defending Division III state cham-
pion 3-2, marking the Tribe’s first
win against the Cavaliers since
1981.
The loss
Fort Recovery’s winning streak
came to a halt with a 7-3 home
defeat to Minster, the third straight
loss to the Wildcats.
“We knew we were human after
that,” said junior left fielder Kyle
Schroer. “I think we needed it. It
was sort of a wake-up call that we
are beatable.”
Minster jumped on the Tribe for
seven runs before the Indians
scratched across three late runs.
See RRooaadd page 9
The road for Recovery
Fort Recovery High School senior Mitch Stammen raises the Division IV regional
championship trophy as classmates Derek Backs, left, Nate Lochtefeld and Cole Wendel celebrate
following the Indians’ 11-9 victory Friday against Cincinnati Country Day in Springfield, Ohio.
Indians’ path
to state finals
chock full of
ups and downs
CELINA, Ohio — The Portland Rockets
had doubleheaders rained out Saturday
and Sunday.
So when they hit the field Tuesday for
the first time in more than a week, it took
a few innings for the offense to get start-
ed.
Trailing the Grand Lake Mariners 2-0 in
the sixth inning, Portland tied the game in
the bottom of the frame and scored three
runs in each of the seventh and eighth
innings for an 8-3 victory.
TJ Lindstrand smacked a double and a
single while driving in five runs to pace
Portland (2-1). Brandon Reamon added
three hits and scored twice.
Alex Delk added two RBIs on two hits,
and Dalton Tinsley also contributed, tally-
ing one hit and scoring twice.
Despite giving up two home runs to Dal-
ton Bollinger, South Adams High School
product Dan Bollenbacher scattered a
total of six hits, giving up three earned
runs in eight innings.
Kyle Selvey, a 2014 Jay County graduate,
pitched a clean ninth inning for Portland.
The Rockets host the Mariners at 7 p.m.
tonight.
Knights top Stars
BLUFFTON — The South Adams golf
team dropped its season finale to Norwell
on Tuesday, 180-202 at Timber Ridge Golf
Course.
South Adams’ No. 2 golfer Jacob Rife
paced the Starfires with a 45. Freshman
David Muselman followed with a 49.
Marcus Teeter and Nick Wurster turned
in scores of 52 and 56 respectively for
South Adams. Lucas Bluhm also compet-
ed, shooting a 60.
Brandon Sink of Norwell earned match
medalist honors with a 42.
Hobbs honorable mention
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jackson Hobbs
has made a name for himself at Fort
Recovery and in Mercer County.
Now he’s getting statewide recognition.
Hobbs was named Division IV All-Ohio
honorable mention by Ohio High School
Baseball Coaches Association on Tuesday.
The junior right hander has an 11-1
record in 15 appearances. He has a gaudy
0.74 ERA, slightly better than his school
record 0.76 he set last year. In 75 1/3
innings, Hobbs has allowed 14 runs, eight
of which were earned. He has struck out
51 batters, walked 10 and surrendered 49
hits.
Offensively, Hobbs leads Fort Recovery
(25-5) with a .390 batting average. He had
driven in 22 runs, scored 27 times and has
six doubles.
See LLooccaall page 9
Rockets rally for 8-3
win over Grand Lake
Local
roundup

Wednesday, June 3, 2015 Sports Page 9
The Indians even had the
potential tying run at the plate,
but couldn’t eliminate the
deficit.
Three days earlier the Indians
beat Coldwater, and Kaup said
the Tribe just didn’t have the
same energy it did against the
Cavs.
“I don’t want to say we had a
letdown,” he said, “but I don’t
think our emotional batteries
were as charged as they were
earlier in the week.”
The MAC
The Indians entered its May 8
matchup with St. Henry boast-
ing a 19-3 record and a 7-1 mark
in the Midwest Athletic Confer-
ence.
The Redskins had an identical
conference record, so a victory
in this game would likely secure
a MAC title.
A pair of unearned runs in
the third inning gave the visit-
ing Redskins an early 2-0 lead,
and eventual Division III All-
Ohio and All-MAC first team
pitcher Ryan Mikesell shut the
door on the Indians’ offense.
Fort Recovery’s chance at the
program’s first MAC champi-
onship slipped away.
“We were disappointed
because of the fact we knew we
weren’t going to win the
league,” Kaup said. “We were
not despondent because we
know it’s a very difficult
league.”
Schroer was more candid.
“We knew we were going up
against a good team and a good
pitcher,” he said. “I feel like we
sort of choked.”
Failing to win the MAC did
not mean the Indians’ season
was over. As senior Mitch Stam-
men mentioned, “It means we
have something else to work for.
We had a chance for a state
championship.
“Since we can’t get the MAC
championship, we’re going to
get a state championship.
And so began the road to
Columbus.
The postseason
First was a 12-0 thumping of
Waynesfield-Goshen in the sec-
tional championship, the second
consecutive title for the Indians.
Next was the district semifi-
nal against Marion Local, which
Fort Recovery beat easily in the
regular season. A 4-0 win in
Coldwater gave the Tribe a
rematch with Minster for the
district title.
Minster got a 2-0 lead in the
first inning, the only runs it
would get. Fort Recovery
responded with seven consecu-
tive runs for a 7-2 win and the
first district title in six decades.
Thursday’s regional semifinal
in Springfield, Ohio, was a
rematch of an April 13 tilt
against Lehman Catholic. The
Tribe won the regular season
game 5-1, and spotted the Cava-
liers one more run at regional
for a 5-2 victory behind stellar
pitching from Jackson Hobbs.
The following day, Fort Recov-
ery led Cincinnati Country Day
by three runs — twice — only to
see it vanish both times. The
Tribe trailed by two in the sixth,
but answered with four runs to
win in thrilling fashion, 11-9.
“That was probably our best
cluster of four games we’ve ever
played as a team,” Stammen
said.
“The game against Cincinnati
Country Day was a dogfight,”
Kaup said. “That was a free-for-
all dogfight.”
It put the second-ranked Indi-
ans two games away from the
school’s fifth state champi-
onship, regardless sport.
The finals
Two more wins.
How do the Indians get two
more wins?
“We just have to play like we
have all season,” said Stammen,
who answered almost word-for-
word the same way as Schroer.
“Don’t stress out, stay laid back
and see what we can do.”
Schroer offered slightly more
insight.
“We shouldn’t just freak out
because we’re going to Colum-
bus and a big stadium for the
first time,” he said. “We’re going
to see quality competition again,
against a team that has been
here.”
Newark Catholic. The Green
Wave. They’re 20-11, but like
Schroer said, they’ve been to the
state finals before.
The ninth-ranked Green Wave
won the state championship in
2013, the seventh in school histo-
ry and second all-time in Ohio.
Oh, and they knocked off top-
ranked Hiland in the regional
final this season.
“They’re going to play a full
seven innings and a full 21 outs,”
Kaup said. “If the game is close,
they feel more and more confi-
dent in their abilities to come
out ahead.”
The Tribe has success when
the score is close, too. It is 7-3
this year in games decided by
fewer than three runs, and is 5-2
in one-run games.
And with Hobbs, a Division IV
all-Ohio honorable mention
pitcher, on the mound Thursday,
the Indians have a shot.
Awaiting them on Saturday in
the state championship will be
either Hicksville (19-10) or
Berlin Center Western Reserve
(22-5).
Should the Indians advance to
Saturday’s final — first pitch is
slated for 1 p.m. — they will have
been battle tested.
Their postseason run to the
title includes six teams ranked
No. 11 or higher. Out of the other
eight regional qualifying teams
in the bracket opposite Fort
Recovery, only three are ranked.
None of them remain.
The Tribe has clawed and
scratched its way to the state
finals.
With 25 wins already, another
two seem possible.
Laid back? That’s just part of
the mystery that is Jerry Kaup, a
coach that has taken the Tribe
from a 2011 season during which
it won just two games, to two wins
from the program’s first state
championship.
His casual demeanor has
helped him keep calm in pressure
situations.
Friday during the regional
championship against Cincinnati
Country Day, Kaup’s Indians
trailed 9-7 heading into the bot-
tom of the sixth inning. The
Tribe was six outs away from hav-
ing its dream season come to an
end.
But there was Kaup, 80 feet
down the third base line doing his
job — giving signs, managing the
situation and giving his players
the best chance for success.
The team in the dugout was on
edge. It had seen its three-run
lead vanish twice. It battled to tie
the game and then fell behind
once more.
And when his team was trail-
ing, Kaup remained calm. At
least on the outside.
“It’s definitely nervous,” he
said of the sixth inning Friday.
“But we’re working. I’m working.
I’m trying to think and work. I’m
nervous, but not afraid to do any-
thing.
“We’re not afraid to lose. We’re
not afraid to win.”
Calm, cool and collected.
That’s Jerry Kaup.
The players feed off his behav-
ior too.
“It’s better for us because we
won’t freak out,” said junior Kyle
Schroer. “We know everything is
OK. Everything is going to be all
right.
“We know to stay calm like
him. He makes it easy for us to
not get out of control and lose our
composure.”
Calm, yes. Kaup is calm. Some
may even say he’s not very stern,
too.
Senior Derek Backs is one of
those people.
“He’s not very strict, but when
the work needs to be done it’s
going to get done,” he said. “He’s
going to make us do what we need
to do. He’s going to make us put
our time in.
“That’s the cool thing … he’s
relaxed, but still gets us to do
what we need to do.”
How have the players repaid
him?
They’ve given him back-to-back
20-win seasons.
They’ve given him the pro-
gram’s first district and regional
titles in 62 years.
“It’s incredible,” Mitch Stam-
men said. “He’s definitely earned
it.”
Schroer agreed.
“It’s awesome for him,” he said.
“He’s taken so much criticism
because he’s had two wins in his
first season. (Four) years later
he’s going to state.”
Backs, too, agrees.
“He doesn’t get a lot of credit
for what he does,” Backs said.
But in early May — before the
Tribe’s 20th win of the season,
the district championship and
regional title — Dorner tried to
give Kaup the credit he deserves.
“ … as far as I’m concerned he
is the (Midwest Athletic Confer-
ence) coach of the year,” he said.
Kaup wasn’t awarded coach of
the year. That honor went to
Dorner. On Tuesday, Kaup was
snubbed on another coaching nod
— Division IV coach of the year.
Both were awards he should
have earned.
“He deserves credit, but he
doesn’t care if he gets credit or
not,” Backs said. “It’s all about
the team. It’s about us players.”
Speaking with Kaup, his voice
rings nothing but confidence —
belief that each of Fort Recov-
ery’s 25 wins are warranted, and
the certainty that the Indians are
capable of winning two more.
Confidence? Of course.
Arrogance? Not even close.
“He is a really nice guy, so when
he’s joking around he’s smiling
and stuff,” Backs said. “But when
he wants to get stuff done he’s
going to be in that mode and you
can tell.”
Despite the “mode” and the
seriousness, his players genuine-
ly enjoy playing for him.
“I love him,” said Backs, a sen-
ior. “I’m glad he’s my coach and
I’m going to miss him.”
By CHRIS SCHANZ
The Patriots are stuck in
a rut.
No, not their golf ball.
The team as a whole.
Jay County High School’s
golf team on Tuesday
defeated the Daleville Bron-
cos at Portland Golf Club,
175-192.
But it was the fourth
straight match the Patriots
have shot in the 170s.
Consistent, yes. But
coach Butch Gray said they
can’t be complacent with
consistency, especially in
Monday’s sectional tourna-
ment at Hickory Hills Golf
Club in Farmland.
“We have to be a little bit
better to get out Monday,”
Gray said. “We kind of hit a
lull. I think part of it is
we’re trying too hard.”
Kyler Hudson paced the
Patriots with a 41 to earn
match medalist honors. He
bogeyed his first four holes,
and had a chance at birdie
on the 520-yard, par-5 14th.
His birdie putt from 25 feet
away was slowed down by
the wet green, and the ball
stopped just short of the
hole.
“The course has played
longer than it has because
you weren’t getting any
roll,” said Gray, noting the
amount of rain that had
fallen on the area the previ-
ous two days. “The greens
were a little slower.”
Hudson then alternated
par and bogey on his final
four holes to close out his
round.
Jay Houck and Graham
Haines followed with
scores of 43 and 44 respec-
tively. Houck bogeyed the
first four holes of his round
before also making par on
14. A double-bogey on 15
put him 6-over through six
holes, and he finished with
two bogeys and a par.
Houck’s shot from the tee
box on the 178-yard par-3
18th landed below the ele-
vated green near the creek
on the left. His approach
shot didn’t quite make it up
the hill thanks to the soggy
conditions. His subsequent
shot stopped 3 feet from the
pin, and he sank the putt to
close his day with a bogey.
Gray noted the wet,
soggy course has a big
affect on how the ball plays.
“Oh, it does for those that
don’t hit it as long or they
hit and want it to roll up on
the green,” he said. Houck’s
second shot on 18 was a
prime example. “We got to
the point to where that’s
how this course was play-
ing — hit it short and let it
roll up on (the green). It’s
not doing that now. You
have to fly it to the green.”
Haines was 1-over
through his first four holes,
but hit out of bounds and
had to settle for triple bogey
on the 14.
Nick Hayden closed out
the Patriots’ team score
with a 47, including making
par three times.
Collin Haines also com-
peted, shooting a 53.
Zach Sizelove led
Daleville with a 47, with
Kaleb Rench and Cole
Meeker both scoring 48.
Scott Anthony was close
behind with a 49.
“We’re coming down to
crunch time,” Gray said.
“We have to play for score
and we have to get it done
going into Monday.
Jay County tees off its
sectional tournament at
9:50 a.m. and will be paired
with Delta and Winchester.
Yorktown is the likely
favorite, so the Patriots will
be fighting Muncie Central,
Wapahani and Delta for the
final two regional qualify-
ing spots.
All four of those squads
have beaten Jay County
this season in invitationals.
“We’ve got to overcome
some hurdles there,” Gray
said.
Jay County golfers
defeat Broncos
Kyler Hudson of Jay County High school chips on to the 14th green
during a match against the Daleville Broncos on Tuesday at Portland Golf Club.
Hudson shot a 41 to earn match medalist honors as the Patriots defeated the
Broncos 175-192.
Road ...
Drives ...
Brown scores 12 in win
Chayson Brown scored a
bunch on Monday.
Twelve times, to be exact.
Brown provided all the
offense for Nate’s Kustom
Painting & Auto Body Repair
Bees as they defeated A.B.’s
Tire Service Hornets 12-10 in
Pennville Soccer League’s
Stinger division.
For the Hornets, Samuel Wig-
gins and Raif Beiswanger com-
bined to score all 10 goals. Wig-
gins found the back of the net
seven times, while Beiswanger
scored the other three.
Local ...Skyler Esparza hit a grand
slam Saturday as Barnett’s
Auto Parts defeated Pioneer
Packaging 11-9 in Portland
Junior League’s Rookie base-
ball action.
Lucas Strait chipped in with
two singles and a triple, scor-
ing three times as well. Lan-
don Garringer, and Sylas
Wenk both tallied three sin-
gles, with Wenk driving in
three runs.
Four power All Circuit
Four players each had three
hits Monday as All Circuit
Electrical defeated Williams
Auto Parts 8-4 in Rookie base-
ball action of Portland Junior
League.
Nick Laux, Matthew Fisher,
Wyatt Wendel and Keegan
Cavanaugh had three hits
apiece for All Circuit. Laux
and Fisher both had two RBIs,
and Wendel scored two times.
Ethan Gillum chipped in with
two hits, including a triple.
Joe Geesaman led Williams
with four hits and an RBI, and
Iziah McAbee added three hits.
Ryan Timmerman, Grayson
Swoveland and Max Klopfen-
stein each had two hits.
Strait hits homer
Lucas Strait hit a home run
and was a triple shy of the cycle
Monday, but Barnett’s and Pon-
derosa Steakhouse finished in a
tie, 5-5.
Caban Hartzell added three
singles and scored twice for
Barnett’s, with Landon Gar-
ringer adding a pair of singles.
Benson Barnett added two
RBIs.
AJ Myers had a double and
three singles for Ponderosa.
Griffen Bryum chipped in with
four singles and two runs.
Optimist beats PG-14
Portland Optimist picked up
a 5-1 victory Monday against
PG-14 in PJL’s Willie Mays divi-
sion.
Dyllan Garringer had two
hits to lead Optimist. Tarron
Bentz and Hank Imel had a sin-
gle apiece.
Adam Nixon led PG-14 with
two singles, and Tyler Manor
added one hit.
Barnett’s blanks Williams
Benson Barnett had three sin-
gles and drove in five runs Tues-
day as Barnett’s shut out
Williams 16-0 in Rookie baseball
action.
Landon Garringer tallied
four hits — two singles, a double
and a triple — and scored three
times for Barnett’s. Lucas Strait
added four singles and scored
four times. Skyler Esparza and
Cavan Hartzell each added a
double and two singles.
Esparza slam leads Barnett’s past Pioneer
Junior League
roundup

Laser Therapy has been
successful in treating post
surgical pain and many
acute and chronic conditions.
Drug Free
Surgery Free
Relief for your Pet
Sports
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Portland Rockets to host
doubleheader on Saturday,
see Sports on tap
Follow us
on Twitter,
@commreview
By CHRIS SCHANZ
Dale “Whitey” Bruns has been
there.
Now the spotlight belongs to his
grandson.
Chase is a junior at Fort Recov-
ery High School and the catcher
on the Indians’ state-bound base-
ball team.
He and his teammates will play
Newark Catholic at 4 p.m. today
in the Division IV state semifinal
at Huntington Park in Columbus,
Ohio.
Playing in the state semifinals
is in Chase’s blood.
Literally.
Whitey Bruns was a sophomore
on the 1953 Indian baseball team
that was state runner-up.
It is the last FRHS baseball
team to reach the state finals.
He is the most decorated pitch-
er in FRHS history, holding
school records for wins in a sea-
son (11, tied with current junior
Jackson Hobbs), complete games
in a season (12), strikeouts in a
season (166), career wins (26),
career shutouts (10), career
strikeouts (355), career complete
games (26) and career innings
pitched (231 1/3).
“I’ve always looked up to my
grandpa,” Chase said. “As a kid I
thought it was cool that my
grandpa played in the Detroit
Tigers’ organization.”
Whitey played in the Tigers’
farm system in 1956 and ’57. He
compiled a 15-28 record in those
two years, bouncing between
teams in Florida and Pennsylva-
nia. He started 37 of the 75 games
he played in, and had a 4.08 ERA.
“To (know) what he’s done, to
make it to state — which hasn’t
been done in a while — and to
have that done now is awesome,”
Chase said. “Hopefully we can
win this time.”
Whitey said this year’s squad
reminds him a lot of the ’53 team.
See HHiissttoorryy page 11
Fort Recovery High School second baseman Chase Bruns throws to first as Celina’s
Chandler Kimmel slides into second in the second inning April 30 at Fort Recovery. Bruns and the
Indians play in the Division IV state semifinal at 4 p.m. today at Huntington Park in Columbus,
Ohio.
Chase-ing history
‘We expect to win. We’ve watched (Newark Catholic) and we’ve prepared every day.
We’re best right now and we’re good enough to win the whole thing.’
—Chase Bruns,
FRHS junior
Junior catcher
has connection
to 1953 state
runner-up team
By ROB MAADDI
AP Sports Writer
PHILADELPHIA —
Mike Leake lost a no-
hit bid in the seventh
inning but went to the
mound in the ninth
looking for his first
career shutout, only to
watch a four-run lead
disappear.
Cody Asche scored
from second base on a
fielding error by pitch-
er Ryan Mattheus in
the 11th inning, lifting
the Philadelphia
Phillies to a 5-4 win
over the Cincinnati
Reds on Wednesday
night after Maikel
Franco hit a tying,
three-run homer off
Aroldis Chapman in
the ninth.
Franco lined a single
up the middle with two
outs in the seventh for
the first hit off Leake.
But he retired the next
four batters before
allowing consecutive
singles by pinch-hitter
Ben Revere and Jeff
Francoeur in the ninth.
“You never want
ninth-inning losses,”
Leake said. “We bat-
tled.”
In the 11th, Asche hit
a double down the left-
field line off Mattheus
(0-1) with one out. Fred-
dy Galvis then hit a
grounder to first base-
man Joey Votto.
Mattheus covered the
bag, but couldn’t catch
the toss and Asche
came around to score.
See Lose page 11
Reds
lose in
extras
By CHANCE FULLER
With an eight-run lead heading into the
eighth the Portland Rockets were looking
to cruise to an easy win, but the Grand
Lake Mariners had other ideas.
With a five-run eighth the Mariners put
themselves in striking distance for the top
of the ninth. Adding another in the top of
the ninth the Mariners were poised to do
some damage with bases loaded and one
out.
But Connor Milligan shut the door with
a strikeout before inducing a harmless pop
fly to first base giving his team the 10-9 vic-
tory.
The Mariners and Rockets are no
strangers to each other as they played just
24 hours prior. The Rockets took that game
8-3 with a late surge.
Big innings were the name of the game
for both teams in Wednesday night’s
match up.
The Rockets (3-1) busted the game open
in the fifth inning plating eight runs after
trailing 3-2. Dalton Tinsley and Brandon
Reamon both drew walks to begin the
frame. No. 3 hitter Billy Geeslin laid a bunt
down the third base line, and the throw
sailed over the head of Grand Lake first
baseman Josh Williams leading to Tinsley
scoring and Geeslin standing on second.
Mitch Waters added a two-run single as
he went 3 for 3 with two RBIs. Waters was
the starting pitcher for the Rockets. He got
the win, going six innings and giving up
four hits and two earned runs. Three base
knocks in a row led to a bases-clearing
triple from Tinsley, who started the inning
off. Tinsley was 1-for-2 with three RBIs and
two walks.
The Mariners’ (0-2) big inning came in
the top of the eighth. Taking advantage of
miscues by the Rockets they were able to
score five in the frame and cut the lead to
two.
See HHaannggss page 11
Portland hangs on
for back-to-back wins
Rockets defeat
Mariners on
consecutive nights
A Jay County High
School graduate was
recently named scholar
athlete for the second con-
secutive season.
Drew Houck, who gradu-
ated from JCHS in 2011 and
played golf at Indiana Uni-
versity East, repeated as a
Daktronics-NAIA Scholar
Athlete.
He joins his teammate
Cameron Cox as two-time
winners, and is one of 165
golfers to earn the honor
nationwide.
Houck recently complet-
ed his Bachelor of Science
degree in business admin-
istration.
Brown nets nine
One game after scoring
12 times, Chayson Brown
added another nine goals
Wednesday.
He provided all the
offense for the second con-
secutive game, helping
Nate’s Kustom Painting &
Auto Body Repair Bees to a
9-4 victory against Adair
Processing Wasps in Pen-
nville Soccer League’s
Stinger division.
Brown scored six goals in
the first half before tacking
on three in the second.
Toby Wenger scored all
four goals for the Wasps.
See NNaammeedd page 11
Jay Co. grad
Houck named
scholar athlete
Local
roundup

Local schedule
Today
Fort Recovery — Baseball vs. Newark
Catholic in state semifinal at Huntington
Park in Columbus – 4 p.m.
Saturday
Hicksville/Berlin Central Western
Reserve in state championship at Hunt-
ington Park in Columbus – 1 p.m.
Northeast Kekionga – 1 p.m.
Sunday
Portland Rockets vs. Grand Lake
Mariners – 5 p.m.
TV schedule
Today
Chicago Cubs at Washington Nationals
(WNDY-23)
8:30 p.m. — X-Games Austin (ESPN)
9 p.m. — Basketball: 2015 NBA
Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden
State Warriors, Game 1 (ABC-6,21)
Friday
11 a.m. — Tennis: 2015 French Open
– Men’s semifinals (NBC-2,13,33)
2:20 p.m. — Soccer: International
Friendly – Netherlands vs. United States
(ESPN)
4:30 p.m. — College Baseball: NCAA
Super Regional (ESPN2)
7:30 p.m. – College Baseball: NCAA
8 p.m. — X-Games Austin (ESPN)
Saturday
9 a.m. — Tennis: 2015 French Open
– Women’s final (NBC-2,13,33)
11 a.m. — College Baseball: NCAA
Noon — X-Games Austin (ABC-6,21)
2 p.m. — Motorcycle Racing: AMA
Motocross – Tennessee National (NBC-
2,13,33)
2 p.m. — X-Games Austin (ABC-6,21)
2 p.m. — College Baseball: NCAA
Super Regional (ESPN, ESPN2)
2:30 p.m. — UEFA Champions
League Soccer – Juventus FC vs. FC
Barcelona (FOX-45,55,59)
3 p.m. — Boxing: Premier Boxing
Champions (NBC-2,13,33)
3 p.m. — PGA Tour Golf: Memorial
Tournament – Third round (CBS-4,7,14)
Super Regional (ESPN)
4:30 p.m. — Horse Racing: 147th
Belmont Stakes (NBC-2,13,33)
Detroit Tigers at Chicago White Sox (FOX-
45,55,59)
7:15 p.m. — Hockey: 2015 Stanley
Cup Final – Chicago Blackhawks at
Tampa Bay Lightning, Game 2 (NBC-
2,13,33)
Local notes
JCHS to host adult swim
There will be an adult lap swim ses-
sions on Tuesdays and Thursdays begin-
ning June 2.
Cost is $2 per session or $25 for a
season pass, and is open to adults 18-
and-older.
The swim will be from 6:30 to 7:30
a.m. at the Jay County High School pool.
The sessions will go through July, and
will be for lap swim only, not recreational
use.
Challenge continues Saturday
The Adams County Run/Walk Chal-
lenge continues Saturday.
The series features eight races within
Adams County.
The next race is the Monroe Lions
Club 5K Run/Walk. The race will begin at
8:15 a.m. on the east side of Adams
Central High School in Monroe.
For more information, contact Al
Arnold at (260) 692-6610, or visit
www.adamscounty5kchallenge.com.
JCHS baseball to hold clinic
team will hold a camp from June 8
through 10.
Cost is $30 per participant and $50
for two from the same family, and each
participant will receive a shirt.
There will be three sessions each
day. The first session is from 8 to 9:30
a.m. and is for first through third
graders. The second session is from 10
to 11:30 a.m. and is for fourth and fifth
graders. Sixth through eighth graders will
be in the third session from 1 to 2:30
p.m.
Night Glow 5K is June 13
The next race in the Run Jay County
5K Circuit will be the Night Glow 5K on
June 13.
Registration begins at 8:30 p.m. at
the Votaw Street entrance of Jay County
Fairgrounds. Cost is $30, or $35 with a
tshirt.
The race will be electronically timed,
and there will be a cash prize for the
best glow-in-the-dark runner.
For more information, contact Jay
Community Center at (260) 726-6477.
Patriots to hold soccer clinic
and 18.
and players.
Cost is $25, and it is open to boys
and girls in grades three through eight.
The clinic will be from 10 a.m. to
noon at the JCHS soccer field.
Tournaments set for June
The Ohio Fury Softball program will
host its annually Star Spangle Shootout
baseball and softball tournaments in
June.
The tournaments, which are open to
teams ranging in ages 10-and-younger to
18-and-younger, will be June 26 through
28 at KC Geiger Park in St. Marys, Ohio.
If interested, contact Mike Bright at
(419) 738-3795, or email
mshort@bright.net.
Thursday, June 4, 2015 Sports Page 11
FORT RECOVERY, OHIO
(419) 375-4134
www.wenningford.com
- CARS -
2004 Chevrolet Cavalier - LS,
Red, 60,488 miles .........................5,364.00
2014 FordTaurus -
Limited, White, 33,492 miles........23,600.00
2013 FordTaurus -
SE, Black, 71,173 miles...............15,000.00
2007 Ford Focus -
Hatchback, Red, 65,000 miles.......7,800.00
2007 Ford Focus -
ZX4, Tan, 83,127 miles..................7,000.00
2013 Ford Focus -
SE, Black, 24,090 miles...............15,500.00
2014 Ford Focus,
Red, 36,150 miles .......................15,000.00
2012 Ford Fusion,
Light Blue, 82,000 miles ..............10,500.00
2012 Ford Fusion - SEL,
Maroon, 27,921 miles..................17,200.00
2012 Ford Fusion,
Silver, 43,915 miles .....................15,900.00
2012 Ford Fusion -
SEL AWD, Silver, 26,461 miles....19,000.00
2014 Ford Fusion -
SE, Red, 22,575 miles.................21,500.00
2014 Ford Fusion - SE,
Gray, 33,823 miles.......................20,995.00
2014 Ford Fusion - SE,
White, 36,931 miles.....................19,800.00
2014 Ford Fiesta,
Silver, 3,563 miles .......................14,500.00
2001 LincolnTowncar,
Light Blue, 104,889 miles ..............6,395.00
2012 Lincoln MKZ -
BASE, Purple, 15,298 miles........20,900.00
2004 Volkswagon Beetle,
Orange, 96,568 miles ....................7,900.00
- SUVS/VANS -
2011 Chevrolet Equinox - 2LT-
AWD, Ruby Red, 110,101 miles ..14,500.00
2013 Ford Escape -
SEL, Ruby Red, 13,492 miles .....23,600.00
2013 Ford Explorer -
FWD, Ruby Red, 64,221 miles ....19,000.00
2014 Ford Explorer XLT -
4WD, Black, 37,775 miles............31,500.00
2014 Ford Edge SEL -
AWD, Sunset, 33,894 miles.........26,300.00
2007 Ford Expedition - Eddie Bauer,
White, 95,011 miles.....................17,500.00
2014 Ford Econoline- Van -
150, White, 42,178 miles.............22,400.00
2011 GMCTerrain AWD -
SLT, Ruby Red, 86,824 miles.......19,963.00
2007 Saturn,Vue -
FWD, Silver, 92,012 miles..............6,995.00
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2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Reg. Cab
4x2, Red, 125,067 miles .................9,500.00
2011 Dodge Ram 1500 -
4x4, Blue, 16,421 miles.................34,500.00
2004 Ford Ranger - Supercab
4x2, Black, 62,249 miles .................8,400.00
2006 Ford F-250 - Reg Cab
4x4, Silver, 99,307 miles ...............11,995.00
2010 Ford F-150 XLT - Crew Cab
4x4, Black, 97,800 miles.................22,700.00
2010 Ford F-150 Platinum - Crew Cab,
Black, 74,571 miles.......................31,800.00
2012 Ford F-150 - Lariat - Crew Cab,
Ruby Red, 71,509 miles .................35,995.00
2013 Ford F-150 Crew Cab
4x4, Black, 36,787 miles ...............32,500.00
2014 Ford F-150 Crew Cab
4x4, Black, 10,592 miles ...............37,500.00
2002 Ford F-150 XLT
2WD, Black, 260,903 miles .............3,000.00
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Sports on tap
“We were well-coached,”
he said, referring to Harold
(Doc) Knapke. “So is this
team (a nod to Jerry Kaup).
We might not have been as
flashy, but we got the job
done.”
The 2015 Indians are get-
ting the job done too, and
Whitey said he likes what
he’s seen from them this
season.
“This is a solid team that
makes things happen,” he
said. “They are very
aggressive and they make
other teams get things
done. They do a lot of gam-
bling. We were a lot more
conservative years ago.
“I’m hoping they can win
(a state championship).
They’ve worked hard.”
He also said he’s happy
to get to see his grandson
have the privilege of reach-
ing the state finals,
acknowledging that not
many teams get the experi-
ence.
“It’s very rewarding,” he
said. “Chase is a good boy
and he does his best.”
For Chase, he’s loved to
see his grandfather in the
stands supporting him as
he reaches the pinnacle of
high school baseball in
Ohio.
“He’s been there,” Chase
said. “He’s done the same
thing we’ve done and he’s
out there cheering us on.
Hopefully we can win.
That’s the plan.”
“We expect to win. We’ve
watched (Newark Catholic)
and we’ve prepared every
day. We’re best right now
and we’re good enough to
win the whole thing.”
Win.
It’s something the 1953
team wasn’t able to do at
the state level.
And it’s something
Chase and his teammates
have done this year quite
often — a school-record 25
times.
Whitey and his team-
mates only played 13
games, losing once, in the
state championship.
Chase has success in his
blood. He got it from his
grandpa.
Whitey Bruns has his
name in Fort Recovery
baseball lore, owning near-
ly every pitching record.
Chase has a chance to
have his name in Tribe his-
tory too.
With victories this after-
noon and Saturday, Chase
will have something his
grandfather doesn’t.
A state championship.
Dues, Johnson lead
Isaac Dues and Mason
Johnson led Pak-A-Sak to a
12-4 victory Tuesday
against Pioneer Packaging
in Portland Junior
League’s Rookie baseball.
Dues had a home run,
two singles and a double,
and Johnson recorded four
singles for Pak-A-Sak.
Layne Reidt added a trio of
singles.
Rhysin Blowers smacked
a home run and two dou-
bles to pace Pioneer.
Loy’s wins
Nicholas Nickson and
Nate Dalrymple were both
3-for-4 Tuesday, helping
Loy’s Realty to a 12-3 victo-
ry against Local 1620 in
PJL’s Sandy Koufax divi-
sion.
Jordan Schricker,
Matthew Minnich, Derek
Bryan and Bailey Cox had
two hits apiece for Loy’s.
Seth Fugiett and Brock
Bayless both had two hits
for Local 1620. Neo Ferrel,
Lacey Canterberry and
Logan McGinnis each
added hits.
Frontline wins 13-0
Frontline Construction
shut out Crossroads Finan-
cial Federal Credit Union
13-0 on Wednesday in
Minor softball.
Aubrey Schwieterman
had a pair of hits and
scored three runs for
Frontline. Renna Schwi-
eterman, Madison Wenk
and Lenzi Earls all tallied
two hits and a pair of runs.
Olivia Bright scored two
runs on three hits.
Named ...
History ...
“I should’ve made the play,”
Mattheus said. “I’ve practiced it so
many times. There’s no excuse for
it.”
The Phillies have two straight
walk-off wins after losing seven
games in a row.
Seeking his first shutout in 153
starts, Leake exited with two run-
ners on and a four-run lead.
Center fielder Billy Hamilton
helped Chapman with a diving
catch on Chase Utley’s liner to left-
center that was a sacrifice fly. After
Ryan Howard walked, Franco hit a
98 mph fastball way out to left-cen-
ter.
Franco hit a tying, two-run
homer in the eighth in Philadel-
phia’s 5-4 win Tuesday night.
Chapman had converted 29
straight save chances, dating to
last year, and was 9 for 9 this sea-
son before blowing his first since
June 28, 2014. His streak was the
longest active one in the majors.
“The guy had a one-hit shutout
with one of the best closers in the
game behind him,” Reds manager
Bryan Price said, explaining his
pitching decision in the ninth.
Luis Garcia (2-1) worked a score-
less 11th to earn the win after
allowing a leadoff double to Votto.
Philadelphia starter Cole
Hamels gave up two runs and six
hits, striking out eight in seven
innings. He remained 10-0 against
the Reds, including playoffs. The
ace lefty was a hard-luck loser last
Friday when the Phillies were no-
hit for 7 1-3 innings by Colorado’s
Chad Bettis in a 4-1 loss.
Leake was 0-3 with a 12.86 ERA
in his previous three starts, but he
dominated the Phillies. Leake
retired his first 11 batters before
walking Utley on a close 3-2 pitch.
He hopped off the mound, think-
ing it was strike three. Leake also
walked Carlos Ruiz in the sixth.
Brandon Phillips hit a two-run
single to give the Reds a 2-0 lead in
the fourth. Votto hit a two-run
homer off Jake Diekman in the
ninth, driving it 428 feet the oppo-
site way to the left-center seats for
a 4-0 lead.
Reds first base coach Billy
Hatcher dove out of the way on a
wild throw by Franco after Zack
Cozart hit a grounder to third in
the ninth.
Williams, the team’s clean-up
hitter, would hit a single to score
Tristan Mercadel, who led off the
inning with a double. Williams
was 2-for-4 with two singles and an
RBI. After an error on a could be
double play that would have ended
the inning, catcher Robert Green-
man scorched a double to left field
and grabbed himself two RBIs.
Greenman was 3-for-4 with two
doubles, a walk and two RBIs.
Aside from the fifth, the Rockets
only added runs in one other
inning, while the Mariners only
added runs in fourth and ninth.
The Rockets would start off the
scoring with a two-run fourth.
Waters led off the inning with a
single to right field. A walk by TJ
Lindstrand, and a single by catch-
er Chris Miller loaded the bases.
Alex Delk put the first run on the
board with a sacrifice fly to deep
left field. Jay County High School
graduate Kyle Selvey followed
with a squeeze bunt down the first-
base line for the second run of the
inning. Selvey was 1-for-2 on the
night with two RBIs.
The Mariners responded in the
top of the fifth scoring three to
take the lead 3-2.
“I expect us to be good every
inning, and we weren’t,” said
Rockets coach Randy Miller.
The Rockets committed two
errors in the game, and both
resulted in runs for the Mariners.
Connor Milligan pitched 1 1/3
innings of relief and got the save.
He came in and recorded the last
out of the five-run eighth before
taking the hill in the ninth. Milli-
gan got into a jam with bases
loaded and only one out, but was
able to strikeout Alec Turner for
the second out of the inning.
A walk to Greenman put the
pressure on as the lead shrunk to a
single run. But with a full count
Milligan didn’t shy away, throwing
a fastball to Derek Parola. He
popped up to first basemen
Thomas McCowan to end the
game.
“They’re a solid club, they’re not
going to let us beat them,”
Mariners coach Sam Slavik said of
the Rockets. “We had guys on late
in the game, and had a chance.
That’s all you can ask for.”
The Mariners will get their
chance for revenge in just four
days. The Rockets and Mariners
will face off at 5 p.m. Sunday in
Celina, Ohio, for their third meet-
ing in just six days.
The Rockets will host the North-
east Kekionga in a doubleheader at
1 p.m. Saturday.
Hangs ...
The Commercial Review/Ray Cooney
Dalton Tinsley of the Portland Rockets slides safely in to third base with a triple Wednesday
during his team’s eight-run fifth inning. Tinsley finished 1-for-2 with three RBIs and a pair of walks.
Lose ...

Jay County baseball ends season with sectional semifinal loss

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