Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — Not a bad start.

Strong pitching and an 11-hit attack led the Coal Grove Hornets to a season-opening 11-1 win over the Fairview Eagles in six innings on Tuesday.

“Both our pitchers threw the ball really well,” said Hornets’ coach Dean Mader. “We hit the ball well and did a pretty good job overall.”

Chase McKnight went four innings to get the win. He struck out seven, walked three and scattered six hits. Daniel Rutherford finished up with three strikeouts in two perfect innings of work.

Rutherford went 2-3 with two doubles and three runs batted in. Jacob Clark and McKnight also went 2-3.

After Fairview (0-9) got an unearned run in the top of the first, the Hornets scored twice in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good.

McKnight singled, Clark walked and Rutherford doubled him home. Jeb Jones walked and Darren Bloomfield had an RBI single.

Coal Grove scored two more runs in each of the next two innings.

In the second, Isaac Howard singled and four batters walked to force in two runs.

Howard and Kyle Blevins walked to start the third, McKnight singled and Clark and Rutherford both walked.

The lead went to 9-1 in the fourth when Jordan Case singled, Howard walked, McKnight and Clark singled and Rutherford doubled.

The final two runs scored in the sixth to end the game.

Clark doubled and Rutherford reached on an outfield error for a run. Dylan Malone followed with an RBI single to scored Rutherford.

Coal Grove hosts Piketon at 5 p.m. Thursday.

Fairview 100 000 = 1 6 4

Coal Grove 222 302 = 11 11 3

Jordan Ekers and Jonathan Ruggles. Chase McKnight, Daniel Rutherford (5) and Jeb Jones. W-McKnight (K-7, BB-3). Rutherford IP-2, K-3, BB-0, H-0. Hitting-Fairview: Alex Roy 1-2, Brett Johnson 1-3, Trevor Hutchinson 1-2, Jonathan Ruggles 2-3, Zach Keesee 1-3; CG: Chase McKnight 2-3, Jacob Clark 2-3 rbi 2B, Daniel Rutherford 2-3 rbi-3 2-2B, Dylan Malone 1-2 rbi, Darren Bloomfield 1-3 rbi, Jordan Case 1-3, Isaac Howard 1-1, Kyle Blevins 1-1.