Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

If walks will haunt, Mike Burcham Field was a haunted house for the Ironton Fighting Tigers.

Ironton pitchers allowed eight walks and the defense was guilty of four errors that led to four unearned runs in a 9-5 Ohio Valley Conference loss to the Fairland Dragons on Monday.

“Walks really hurt us,” said Ironton coach Larry Goodwin. “We are allowing too many first batters of an inning to reach base.”

Fairland pitcher Collin Damron proved Goodwin’s point. He struck out 11 and did not walk a batter as he allowed nine hits.

“Offensively, we had too many strikeouts. On a positive note, we did have nine hits. However, when you allow an opposing defense to only make 10 plays, chances are the run totals will be low,” said Goodwin.

Fairland (3-2, 1-0) got a run in the first on singles by Trace Adkins, Tyler George and Brett Curry.

The lead went to 2-0 in the second when Jonah Galloway was hit by a pitch, was sacrificed to second and scored on an error.

Ironton (3-2, 1-1) rallied to take a 3-2 lead in the fourth.

Garrett Carrico doubled, Hunter Klaiber singled and Luke Kelley lined an RBI double. Klaiber scored on a passed ball and Kelley came home when Andy Bruce grounded out.

But Fairland scored five runs in the fifth to take a 7-3 lead.

Damron singled, Curry walked and two passed balls allowed Damron to score. Dylan Murphy then hit a two-run homer to give Fairland the lead.

Garrett Scheibelhood was it by a pitch, moved to third on a sacrifice and passed ball, Robert Thompson walked and Trace Adkins reached on an error as two runs scored.

Ironton got a run in the bottom of the inning when Tanner Price doubled and scored on a hit by Carrico.

Each team got a run in the sixth.

Damron singled, Murphy walked and Galloway singled for Fairland’s run.

Kelley singled and went to third on Hunter Weber’s ground out. Bruce followed with an RBI single.

Fairland’s final run scored in the seventh when Damron walked and scored when Curry reached on an error.

Murphy went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in and Damron was 2-3.

Kelley was 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI, Bruce 2-3 and two RBIs while Carrico was also 2-3 with a double.

Ironton visits South Point on Wednesday and Fairland hosts Rock Hill on Wednesday.

Fairland 110 051 1 = 9 8 3

Ironton 000 311 0 = 5 9 4

Collin Damron and Garrett Scheibelhood. Dane Wilson, Cody Rawlins (3), Garrett Carrico (5), Luke Diamond (6) and Hunter Weber. W-Damron (K-11, BB-0). L-Carrico (K-1, BB-2, R-5, ER-3, H-2). Wilson IP-2, K-1, BB-1, H-3, R-2, ER-1. Rawlins IP-2, K-0, BB-2, H-1, R-0. Diamond IP-2, K-3, BB-3, H-2, R-2, ER-1. Hitting FHS: Trace Adkins 1-3, Tyler George 1-5, Collin Damron 2-4, Brett Curry 1-4 rbi, Dylan Murphy 2-4 rbi-2 HR, Jonah Galloway 1-2 rbi; Ironton: Garrett Carrico 2-3 2B, Hunter Klaiber 1-3, Luke Kelley 3-3 rbi 2B, Andy Bruce 2-3 rbi-2, Tanner Price 1-3 2B.