Tigers cook up winning recipe to blank Hornets

IRONTON — A pinch of this, a dash of that, a smidge of that, mix it up and you have a win.

Ironton had a successful recipe on Friday as the Fighting Tigers blanked the Coal Grove Hornets 10-0 in a five-inning run rule Ohio Valley Conference win.

Braydon Baker pitched a one-hitter and Ethan Sutton was 3-for-4 with 3 runs batted in to help spark the win.

“A few kids made some great plays in the outfield, (Ethan) Sutton hit great and (Braydon) Baker pitched very well,” said Ironton coach John Hunt.

Baker threw just 46 pitches with 37 going for strikes. He struck out 6, did not walk a batter and retired the final 11 batters he faced.

Bryson Kerns had a good day as he went 2-3 with an RBI, Tanner Kleinman 1-2 with an RBI, Dawson Philyaw 1-1 with an RBI, Carson Freeman 1-3 with a double and an RBI, and Baker 1-4 with a double.

Karder Keaton was 1-2 as he got the only baserunner for Coal Grove (5-11, 2-9) with a one-out single in the second inning.

Ironton (10-4, 9-2) quickly went ahead with 3 runs in the first inning.

With one out, Kerns singled, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on a hit by Sutton.

Jacob Hughes walked, both runners advanced on a wild pitch and Kleinman hit a sacrifice fly. Carter Bridges and Philyaw both walked to force home a run.

In the second, Silas Ginger walked, stole second, took third on a ground out and scored on a ground out by Kerns.

Another run scored in the third to make it 5-0 on walks to Bridges and Philyaw, and Freeman’s RBI double.

The Fighting Tigers scored 4 runs in the fourth to open up a 9-0 lead.

With one out, Kerns singled, went to second on a passed ball, took third on a wild pitch and scored on a hit by Sutton.

An overthrow to the infield sent Sutton to third and he scored when Hughes reached on an error. Hughes stole second, Kleinman singled and a wild pitch scored Hughes.

Kleinman moved up on a wild pitch and scored on a hit by Philyaw.

Ironton ended the game early when Baker doubled leading off the fifth and scored on a single by Sutton.

“The guys are starting to come around a bit,” said Hunt. “We still need a few other things, but definitely we are going in the right direction.”

Ironton has a big week ahead with South Point at home on Monday, Gallia Academy away on Tuesday and Rock Hill on the road Wednesday, and non-league Green at home on Thursday.

Coal Grove 000 00 = 0 1 1

Ironton 311 41 = 10 9 0

Brisen Collins, Leland McKnight (3) and Case Webb. Braydon Baker and Ethan Sutton. W-Baker (IP-5.0, H-1, R-0, ER-0, K-6, BB-0). L-Collins (IP-2.2, H-2, R-5, ER-5, K-0, BB-6). McKnight (IP-2.0, H-7, R-5, ER-2, K-1, BB-1). Hitting-Coal Grove: Karder Keaton 1-2; Ironton: Braydon Baker 1-4 2B, Bryson Kerns 2-3 RBI, Ethan Sutton 3-4 3-RBI, Tanner Kleinman 1-2 RBI, Dawson Philyaw 1-1 RBI, Carson Freeman 1-3 2B RBI.