Hughes' 1-hitter keys Ironton to shutout win over Pioneers, district final berth

ATHENS — Hughes came up huge.

Jacob Hughes pitched a one-hitter as the Ironton Fighting Tigers blanked the Zane Trace Pioneers 2-0 in the Division 5 district semifinals.

“We played well but Jacob just dominated the game,” said Ironton coach John Hunt. “We didn’t have an error and got some clutch hits, but Jacob was just so dominant.”

Ironton (17-6) will play Minford in the district finals at 2 p.m. on Friday at Ohio University. Minford (24-3) edged Wellston 7-6 in the other semifinal game.

Hughes struck out 9, walked 2 and hit a batter in getting the complete game.

Zane Trace (19-10) got its only hit in the fourth inning when Noah Kysor got a one-out single to left field.

Kysor also was hit by a pitch starting the seventh inning and moved up on a passed ball. Owen Gallion reached over his head to make a nice catch of a fly ball for the first out  and then Hughes struck out the next two batters to end the game.

The game was scoreless until the third inning when Ironton got its first run.

Braydon Baker singled with one out, Bryson Kerns followed with a single and both runners moved up on a wild pitch.

Ethan Sutton then singled to left field to score Baker.

The Fighting Tigers got an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning.

Owen Gallion got a leadoff single, stole second, went to third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch.

Ironton had 8 hits with Sutton going 2-4 with an RBI, Kerns 2-4, Dawson Philyaw and Tanner Kleinman each 1-2, and Gallion 1-3.

Zane Trace pitcher Gunnar McCullough pitched well in taking the loss. He struck out 9, walked one, hit a batter and the 2 runs were earned.

Ironton 001 000 1 = 2 8 0

Zane Trace 000 000 0 = 0 1 1

Jacob Hughes and Ethan Sutton. Gunnar McCullough and Quinton Allen. W-Hughes (IP-7.0, H-8, R-0, ER-0, K-9, BB-2, HBP-1). L-McCullough (IP-7.0, H-8, R-2, ER-2, K-9, BB-1, HBP-1). Hitting–Ironton: Braydon Baker 1-4, Bryson Kerns 2-4, Ethan Sutton 2-4 RBI, Dawson Philyaw 1-2, Tanner Kleinman 1-2, Owen Gallion 1-3; Zane Trace: Noah Kysor 1-1.