Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — Maybe all Coal Grove coach Dean Mader needed to do was play the Eagles song, “Take It Easy.”

With his team pressing to get a win after an 0-5 start, Mader played a calming role as he settled down pitcher Jacob Pierce who pitched a three-hitter to give the Hornets a 6-3 win over the St. Joseph Flyers on Tuesday.

“Pierce threw pretty well. He’s been trying too hard and today he just relaxed and threw the ball,” said Mader.

Pierce struck out nine, walked one and hit a batter in getting the complete game win.

Alex Bare went 3-3 with a double and triple to led a 13-hit attack for the Hornets.

After a scoreless first inning, Coal Grove got four runs in the second.

Bare singled, stole second and scored on a hit by Paul Richardson. Mason Nance singled, Cody Pennington had a two-run double and Jessey Rigsby singled with an error on the play allowing a run to score.

The Flyers (4-2) cut the deficit to 4-2 in the fourth inning.

Joseph Payton was hit by a pitch, Justin Mahlmeister reached on an error and Cole Willis had a two-run single.

The Flyers closed to within 4-3 in the top of the fifth when Chris Lewis singled, stole second, moved to third when Hunter Pemberton reached on an error and scored on a wild pitch.

But the Hornets got two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Rigsby singled, Pierce doubled and Travis Carey had a run-scoring single. Bare followed with an RBI double.

The Hornets play at River Valley on Wednesday. St. Joseph hosts East on Thursday.

St. Joseph 000 210 0 = 3 3 2

Coal Grove 040 020 x = 6 13 1

Justin Mahlmeister, Hunter Pemberton (4) and Hunter Pemberton, Justin Mahlmeister (4). Jacob Pierce and Jesse Rigsby. W-Pierce (K-9, BB-1, ER-1). L-Mahlmeister (K-2, BB-0, H-8, ER-1). Pemberton K-4, BB-0, H-5, ER-2. 2B-CG: Cody Pennington 2, Alex Bare. 3B-CG: Alex Bare. Hitting-St. Joseph: Cole Willis 1-3, Jacob Clark 1-3, Chris Lewis 1-3; CG: Mason Nance 1-4, Cody Pennington 2-4, Jesse Rigsby 2-4, Jacob Pierce 2-4, Travis Carey 2-3, Alex Bare 3-3, Paul Richardson 1-3.