ANNA — The Pirates battled long, but wound up just shy.
Riverside saw its season come to a close Friday, losing 4-3 to Fort Recovery in a Division VI district final, with the teams needing an eighth inning to decide the outcome.
The teams came in sporting very similar records and both pitchers were sharp. Fort Recovery grabbed the lead a couple of times, only to see Riverside draw even.
In the bottom of the eighth, Emma Will of the Indians got the winning hit, scoring Paisley Hart to claim the district title and advance to the regionals.
Riverside’s final record is 15-12, while Fort Recovery improves to 16-9.
Riley Dillon went the distance for Riverside in the circle, allowing nine hits and just one walk, with seven strikeouts.
Dillon helped her own cause with two solo home runs and a double, and Aubree Huston had an RBI double.
Coach Andy Phelps of Riverside said, “They made more plays than us. We were down twice and came back, so I can’t fault us for our effort. They’re a good team. I knew we had to play our best to beat them, and they just got us today.”
He praised Dillon’s effort both pitching and hitting, noting that a few defensive mistakes proved to be the difference.
The team will lose six seniors to graduation — Brook Hunkler, Jayden Hoffer, Aubree Huston, Taylor Dillon, Jaidyn Jackson and Avery Perk. “They’ve been with me for four years now,” said Phelps. “They are just a great group of girls. They are going to be greatly missed. I wish them all the best.”
For the Indians, the winning pitcher was Jenna Homan, who allowed six hits, walked two and struck out five.
Hart had three hits on the night, with Will and Homan each having two hits and an RBI.
After Riverside went in order to start the game, Will doubled to centerfield and then stole third. After a strikeout, Homan’s fly to left field was easily caught. But it was deep enough to allow Will to tag up and score.
Riverside loaded the bases on a walk and two errors by Fort Recovery with two outs in the top of the second. But Homan got Miah Carman to ground out to first, escaping with no damage.
In the bottom half, Fort Recovery had a couple runners aboard with two outs. A grounder by Layla Armstrong was grabbed by Perk at third base. She turned and dove to the bag and get the forceout, ending the inning.
Dillon led off the third with a double to left-center, and was replaced by Kenna Johnson. A sacrifice bunt by Emilee Robinson moved Johnson to third, and she came home on a solid double by Huston, tying the game at 1.
Riverside recorded three force plays in the bottom of the third, with the middle of the defense getting runners at second base.
Both sides went in order in the fourth.
With one away in the fifth, Dillon came to bat. The first pitch was a bit outside, but called a strike. Dillon sent the next one sailing over the fence in right-center to put the Pirates ahead 2-1.
Robinson reached on an error, and would get to second, but be left aboard.
Fort Recovery lived up to their name and answered quickly. Armstrong singled to center to start it. Will reached as Armstrong was forced out at second. After a flyout to right, Homan singled to right, and took second without a throw.
Ella Schoen ripped a line drive that bounced off the first baseman’s glove and went into shallow right. Both runners sped around to score and make them 3-2.
Hoffer then made a diving catch in center to end the inning.
After each side left runners aboard in the sixth, Dillon led off the seventh. She took the first two pitches, then smacked the next to the far side of the fence in right, making it 3-all.
Robinson followed with a single to right, then moved around to third on a sac bunt and groundout. But Homan got Jaidyn Jackson looking at strike three.
The Indians put runners on in the bottom of the seventh on a grounder by Ava Grisez that snuck under the fielder’s glove at second and a single by Homan. Riverside then put Emma Schoen aboard to create force plays at every base. Dillon bore down and got the next two batters swinging at strike three.
Hunkler got a one-out walk in the eighth. She got to second on a groundout, but was left there after a strikeout.
Dillon retired the leadoff Indians hitter on a grounder to short. That was followed by a hit from Hart to the right side of the infield. After a strikeout, Hart stole second.
Will then drove a ball into center. The Pirates tried to get her out as she went for second, but she beat the throw as Hart crossed the plate to end the game.
Fort Recovery advances to face either Tri-Village or Fayetteville-Perry in the regional semifinals next Wednesday.