Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — Jacob Pierce felt right at home.

After missing his junior season, Pierce tossed a four-hitter as the Coal Grove Hornets opened the season with an 8-1 win over the St. Joseph Flyers on Monday.

Pierce struck out 11, walked four and the run was unearned.

“It was nice to get him on the mound and get a good look at him. He did a nice job,” said Hornets’ coach Dean Mader.

Coal Grove (1-0) had 10 hits led by Sean Paulus who was 3-3 with two runs batted in. Daniel Rutherford and Isaiah Gunther were 2-2 and Jesse Rigsby had three RBIs.

The Flyers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Tre Neal walked, stole second and scored on a passed ball.

The Hornets tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Rutherford singled, stole second and third, and scored on a ground out by Rigsby.

Coal Grove took the lead with a run in the second on a hit by Paulus who stole second and third and scored on a throwing error.

In the third, Jacob Clark singled, stole second and third, and came home on Rigsby’s sacrifice fly.

The lead went to 4-1 in the fifth when Rutherford singled, stole second, took third on a ground out and came home on Pierce’s base hit.

The Hornets put the game away with four runs in the sixth.

Dylan Malone singled, Cole Gannon reached on a fielder’s choice and came around to score on a passed ball.

Gunther, Clark, Rutherford and Rigsby all walked to force in a run. Paulus singled for two runs.

Chris Lewis, Tyler Walters, Brad Rist and Neal all had hits for the Flyers (0-2).

Coal Grove plays at Raceland, Ky., on Wednesday. St. Joseph hosts Sciotoville East in a 4 p.m. doubleheader Tuesday.

St. Joseph 100 000 0 = 1 4 3

Coal Grove 111 014 x = 8 10 1

Cole Willis, Brad Rist (5) and Tre Neal. Jacob Pierce and Jacob Clark. W-Pierce (K-11, BB-4, ER-0). L-Willis. Hitting–SJ: Tre Neal 1-1, Chris Lewis 1-2, Tyler Walters 1-3, Brad Rist 1-2 2B; CG: Jacob Clark 1-2 r-2, Daniel Rutherford 2-2 runs-3, Jesse Rigsby SF-3 rbi-3, Jacob Pierce 1-4 rbi, Sean Paulus 3-3 rbi-2, Dylan Malone 1-1, Isaiah Gunther 2-2.