Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

SOUTH POINT — Ironton coach Larry Goodwin liked seeing a win, but he liked some other things he saw.

Goodwin liked how his team responded to an early deficit and the pitching of Garrett Carrico as the Fighting Tigers beat the South Point Pointers 7-3 on Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“The players showed a lot of character tonight. We were down 3-0 at one point. We kept our composure and got some base runners on and then had some timely hits,” said Goodwin.

Not only did Ironton get a comeback victory, but it also marked the first career win for the freshman Carrico.

Carrico gave up six hits, struck out eight, walked three and hit a batter.

“Garrett Carrico pitched well to get his first high school win. Defensively we played very well,” said Goodwin.

Ironton (8-6, 3-4) pounded out 11 hits led by Tanner Price who went 2-for-3 with two doubles and a run batted in.

Luke Diamond was 2-4 with two RBI, Luke Kelley 2-4 and an RBI, Andy Bruce 2-4 and Hunter Klaiber was 2-4 with a double and two RBI.

Travis Dillon was 2-3 to lead the Pointers.

South Point took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Trey Kearns singled, stole second and third, and scored on Alex Whitt’s ground out.

The Pointers extended the lead to 3-0 in the third inning.

Kearns walked, stole second and third, and came home on a sacrifice fly by Chris Woodard.

Whitt then doubled and scored on Dillon’s base hit.

But Ironton answered with four runs in the fourth.

Diamond singled, Carrico walked and Kelley singled for an RBI. Klaiber singled home Carrico and Bruce singled to load the bases. Price then doubled in a pair of runs to cap the rally and give the Fighting Tigers the lead.

Ironton added a run in the fifth when Kelley reached on an error and Klaiber doubled.

The Fighting Tigers added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth.

Bruce reached second on a two-base error, went to third on a ground out, Wilson walked and both runners scored on a hit-and-run single by Diamond.

Ironton visits Coal Grove on Monday. South Point travels to Fairview, Ky., on Tuesday.

Ironton 000 412 0 = 7 11 2

South Point 102 000 0 = 3 6 2

Garrett Carrico and Hunter Weber. Alex Whitt, Logan Wade (6), Douglas Shaffer (7) and Christian Pritchard. W-Carrico (K-8, BB-3, HBP-1, ER-3). L-Whitt (IP-5, K-4, BB-1, R-5, ER-4, H-8). Wade (IP-1, K-1, BB-1, H-1, R-2, ER-0). Shaffer (IP-1, H-2). Hitting—Ironton: Luke Diamond 2-4 rbi-2, Luke Kelley 2-4 rbi, Hunter Klaiber 2-4 2B rbi-2, Hunter Weber 1-4, Andy Bruce 2-4, Tanner Price 2-3 2-2B rbi-1; SP: Trey Kearns 1-3, Alex Whitt 1-4 rbi 2B, Travis Dillon 2-3 rbi, Drew Adams 1-3 2B, Christian Pritchard 1-3.