Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — The games keep coming and the Coal Grove Hornets keep winning.
Playing their fourth game in four days, the Hornets picked up another win to remain tied for first place in the Ohio Valley Conference race with a 6-5 win over the Chesapeake Panthers on Friday.
“We’re playing four games in four days, so we have to have guys step up. This is a test for the pitching and our guys were up to the challenge today and we got some clutch hitting,” said Hornets’ coach Dean Mader.
Dylan Malone and Jeb Jones teamed up for a seven-hitter. Jones got the win while Malone notched the save.
Coal Grove (6-2, 4-1) scored three runs in the top of the first.
Chase McKnight singled, Jacob Clark walked and they pulled off a double steal. Daniel Rutherford was intentionally walked and Jones walked to force in a run.
A passed ball scored Clark and Darin Bloomfield’s fly ball was dropped allowing a run to score.
The Panthers came back with two runs in the second.
Bryce Depriest and Tyler Eddy singled, Kelton Jones was hit by a pitch and Casey McComas reached on an error and two runs scored.
The Hornets got the runs back in the fifth.
Jordan Case singled, Nate Harmon was safe on an error to put runners on the corners. Harmon stole second and McKnight singled them home.
The Panthers tied the game in the sixth.
Burcham was safe on an error, Dalton Nida walked and Austin Browning doubled in a run. A missed third strike led to the throwing error and two runs scored to tie the game.
Coal Grove got the winning run in the bottom of the sixth.
Rutherford and Jones singled to put runners on the corners and Malone singled in Rutherford.
McKnight was 2-4 with two RBI, Rutherford 2-3 with a double and Jones was 2-2 with an RBI as the Hornets got nine hits.
Seven different players had hits for the Panthers.
On Monday, Coal Grove hosts Rock Hill and Chesapeake entertains South Point.
Chesapeake    020    003    0    =    5    7    4
Coal Grove    300    021    x    =    6    9    4
Casey McComas, Jamey Mills (1), Kelton Jones (5) and Tyler Eddy. Dylan Malone, Jeb Jones (5), Dylan Malone (7) and Jeb Jones, Jacob Clark (5), Jeb Jones (7). W-Jones (IP-3.0, K-4, BB-2, HBP-2). Save-Malone (IP-4.0, K-4, BB-1, HBP-1). L-Jones. Hitting-Chesy: Casey McComas 1-5, Evan Burcham 1-4, Austin Browning 1-3 2B, Bryce Depriest 1-4, Zach Wright 1-3, Tyler Eddy 1-4, Jamey Mills 1-3: CG: Chase McKnight 2-4 2-RBI, Daniel Rutherford 2-3 2B, Jeb Jones 2-2 RBI, Dylan Malone 1-4 RBI, Jordan Case 1-4, Darin Bloomfield 1-4.