Staff report

FORT LORAMIE — Jackson Center denied Fort Loramie a share of the County softball championship Monday with a big upset of the Lady Redskins in the season finale for both teams, 10-8 at Fort Loramie.

Fort Loramie put itself in position to gain a share of the league title by upsetting Houston last week. Houston and Russia have both already clinched a share of the league title, and Fort Loramie was expected to do the same Monday night at home against a Jackson Center team that finishes the season with just six victories.

But after falling behind 5-1 after two innings and 6-2 after three, the Lady Tigers used clutch two-out hitting to overcome the Lady Redskins.

They plated five runs in the top of the fourth to take the lead, but Fort Loramie came back with two in the bottom of the fourth to regain the advantage at 8-7. But the Lady Redskins would not score again. Jackson tied it with a run in the sixth, then scored twice in the seventh and made it stand up up for the big upset win.

“Jackson got a run in the first on an error and a two-out double by Connor Pipke,” said Loramie coach Brad Turner. “That was the first unearned run we gave up, and it was a sign of things to come.”

Loramie got two unearned runs in the first, then scored three in the second, two coming home on Jessica Boerger’s home run.

Jackson’s run in the fifth came with two out and nobody on when Abby Meyer singled and Pipke plated her with her second straight double.

In the Jackson fourth, the first batter struck out, then Hailey Rogers singled and Bri Davis doubled. Two straight walks followed to force in a run, but a fly-ball out failed to produce a run and was the second out. But an error scored one run, then Camryn Hoehne delivered the big hit of the game, a three-run triple to put the Lady Tigers on top.

Loramie got two in the bottom of the fourth on a single by Kristin Ratermann and back-to-back RBI doubles from Boerger and Abby Holthaus.

Then in the sixth, Jackson tied it when Cassie Meyer singled and Hoehne doubled her home with another clutch two-out hit.

In the top of the seventh, Jackson’s first two batters struck out. But Bri Davis walked and Katie Sosby singled, before Cassie Meyer smacked still another two-out double for the Lady Tigers to score both runners.

“We did not play a clean game,” said Turner. “They capitalized on all three errors they made and scored six unearned runs. But they took full advantage of their opportunities with two outs. Of the 10 runs they scored, eight of them came with two outs. And we seemed to use up all of our offense in the first part of the game.”

Loramie outhit the Lady Tigers 13-10 but couldn’t overcome JC’s clutch hitting. Loramie pitchers Raterman and Megan Koppin combined to strike out 10.

Hoehne and C. Meyer were both 2 for 4 and drove in four and three runs, respectively. Both of Hoehne’s hits and one of Meyer’s were doubles, and Pipke had two doubles and drove in two. Katie Sosby scored three times and Brianna Davis twice. Davis also had a double.

For Loramie, Boerger was 3 for 4 with a double, scored three times and drove in two runs, Holthaus had two doubles, and Raterman had two hits.

Fort Loramie finished 9-3 in the County for sole possession of second place. Houston and Russia were both 10-2.

Overall, Loramie was 13-14, and Jackson Center was 6-13 overall and 5-7 in County play.

The linescore:

JC`101 501 2`10`10`2

FL`231 200 0`8`13`3

WP: Rogers; LP: Koppin

Final records: FL 13-14, JC 6-13.