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PBR Spotlight Game: #4 (D-IV) Fort Recovery vs #13 (D-III) Versailles

April 24, 2015

By Dylan Hefflinger
Ohio Editor in Chief/NW Scout

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PBR Spotlight Game: #4 Fort Recovery vs #13 Versailles

FORT RECOVERY – The dream season for the Indians continues (and as a Cleveland Indians fan, believe me I am not talking about that Tribe). The 4th ranked team in Division IV remains unbeaten after knocking off Midwest Athletic Conference foe #13 ranked (D-III) Versailles by a final score of 5-4.

The Fort Recovery Indians set the record most wins in a season a year ago, but is on pace to shattering that record as the Indians are now 14-0 on the season.

The Indians jumped out to a 2-0 lead after one inning.

Left-handed hitting senior Cole Wendel laced a single to right and moved up to third on back-to-back walks by junior Jackson Hobbs and senior Mitchel Stammen which loaded the bases.

Senior Derek Backs roped an RBI single up the middle to score Wendel and junior Kyle Schroer followed that with a sacrifice fly to score Hobbs.

Down 2-0 and having not gotten anything going offensively, the Versailles Tigers exploded for four runs in the 4th off of Fort Recovery starter Wendel.

An error started the frame, allowing junior Brett McEldowney to reach.

After a flyout the Tigers recorded three straight hits, a double, single and single.

Dan Borchers blasted an RBI double to deep left to score B. McEldowney. Freshman Keaton McEldowney followed with an infield single to put runners at the corners. Catcher Nick Moorman laced an RBI single up the middle to score B. McEldowney.

Kyle Rutschilling was robbed of a hit as Fort Recovery's second baseman, Chase Burns made an outstanding diving play.

With runners on the corners, talented freshman Cole Niekamp hit a long fly over the center fielders head for a two-run triple, putting the Tigers on top 4-2.

However this is a special season for the Indians and they did not give up down 4-2, scoring a run in the 4th and two in the 5th.

In the 4th, Backs started out the frame with a double to left, advancing to third on a sacrifice fly by Schroer. Nate Lochtefeld scored Backs on a groundout to cut Versailles lead to 4-3.

In the 5th, the Indians took a 5-4 lead.

With the top of the lineup headed to the plate in the 5th, the Indians were confident. Stammen hit a grounder up the middle and promptly stole second (picture below). Wendel walked to put two on and nobody out.
Stammen steal vs Versailles

A sacrifice bunt by Hobbs put the go ahead run at second and the tying run at third.

Jacob Homan drove in the tying run on a sacrifice fly which brought to the plate Backs who was 2-2 heading into this at bat.

Derek Backs game-winning hit vs VersaillesThe catcher (pictured right) was sawed-off, but blooped an RBI single to left to put the Indians on top 5-4.

Down 5-4 in the 7th, the Versailles Tigers would not go down without a fight.

The Tigers had runners on 1st and 2nd with just one down and clean-up hitter Jace Barga at the plate, which called for a pitching change as the Indians put their ace, Hobbs on to close out the game.

Barga hit a shot to deep right, but Will ran the ball down in right and threw the ball to second to double to runner off who was unexpectedly was off and running on the crack of the bat (picture below).FR wins over Versailles

Top Performances on the day

+ Derek Backs: The senior had a big day at the plate, going 3-3 with two singles, a double, a run scored and two RBIs (including the game-winner).

+ Cole Wendel: The senior picked up the win on the mound, going five innings. At the plate the left-handed hitter had a single, two walks, and two runs scored (including the game-winner).

+ Jackson Hobbs: The talented junior picked up the save on the mound. At the plate went 0-1 with a walk, run scored and a sacrifice bunt.

+ Brett McEldowney: The junior went five innings on the mound. At the plate the right-handed hitter went 2-4 with two singles and a run scored.

+ Cole Niekamp: The freshman had a two-run triple on a long fly to deep center.

Linescore

Versailles         000 400 0 - 4 8 0

Fort Recovery  200 120 x - 5 6 1

Records: Fort Recovery 15-0, Versailles 10-5.

Winning pitcher: Cole Wendel (5 innings, 4 runs, 3 ER, 6 hits, 2 strikeouts, 1 walks). Others: Jacob Homan, Jackson Hobbs.

Losing pitcher: Brett McEldowney (5 innings, 5 runs, 6 hits, 3 strikeouts, 4 walks). Other: Austin Knapke

Leading hitters: (Versailles, 8 hits) - Kyle Subler single; Brett McEldowney 2 singles, run; Dan Borchers double, RBI, run; Keaton McEldowney single, RBI, run; Nick Moorman 2 singles, RBI; Cole Neikamp triple, 2 RBIs. (Fort Recovery, 6 hits) - Mitchel Stammen single, run; Cole Wendel single, run, 2 walks; Derek Backs 2 singles, double, 2 RBIs, run; Ben Will single.

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