DAYTON – Fort Recovery pitcher Alex Dues accomplished a feat no pitcher since 2021 had done on Saturday afternoon at Day Air Ballpark in Dayton as he shut out Lincolnview to earn a 4-0 non-conference victory.
Last time the Lancer bats were held without a run came on June 13th, 2021 in the Division IV state title game when Lincolnview fell 4-0 to champion Warren JFK, 42 games ago.
“Fort Recovery is a very good baseball team,” stated Lancer boss Eric Fishpaw. “Dues was tough on the mound and they made plays defensively while we had problems stringing multiple base runners together today outside of the first inning”.
The designated visiting Indians utilized a Lincolnview error with two outs and a Daniel Patch RBI double on a 3-2 offering from Lancer starter Aiden Hardesty to snag a lead they would never relinquish.
Three singles by Caden Hanf, Austin Bockrath, and Jack Dunlap loaded the bases for the blue and gold in their opening at bat before a ground out to first from Hardesty slammed the door on the chance at a tie heading to the second frame.
Working in similar fashion to their first go round the Indians again connected with two outs as a trio of hitters in Tucker Overman, Alex Dues, and Caden Grisez reached on singles to load the bases. Fort Recovery tossed another single run on the scoreboard thanks to an error by Lincolnview first baseman Jack Dunlap to push ahead 2-0.
Daniel Patch, a 6’7, 260 pound Capital University baseball signee showed out once again for Fort Recovery in his second at bat as he ripped a 3-2 offering to the outfield for a leadoff double. Utilizing a combination of sacrifices and a Lincolnview error Patch would come around to score to push the advantage to 3-0 Indians.
Alex Dues continued to mow his way through the Lancer lineup in the middle innings by surrendering just a walk and a single from the third through the fifth while striking out three to keep his slate clean.
Singles by Wyatt Bihn and Cale Rammel with one gone in the top of inning six opened the doors for the final marker of the game as an RBI single by Troy Homan provided Bihn a chance to cross the plate to make it a 4-0 contest.
Lincolnview’s chances to cut into the lead in their last two at bats were thwarted by the Indians defense as a 1-6-3 double play in the sixth and a pair of strikeouts in the seventh signaled the end for the Lancers.
Fort Recovery (9-4)’s Alex Dues moves to 3-0 on the season as he scattered six hits and handed out a pair of walks against six strikeouts in seven full innings of work.
Aiden Hardesty (2-1) suffered his first setback of the season as he was hit for a pair of doubles and a trio of singles that scored three runs in three frames on the mound for the Lancers.
Next up for the Indians is a Monday trip to South Adams while Lincolnview (10-2) who saw their six game win streak snapped will look to begin anew on Monday when they host Bluffton in an NWC matchup.
Ft Recovery 1-1-1-0-0-1-0 4-9-0
Lincolnview 0-0-0-0-0-0-0 0-6-5