Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

The 1972 Ironton state champions were watching and remembering how they would score in the late innings to win games.
The 2017 Ironton Fighting Tigers decided to do an imitation of the champs.
Ironton got a run in the bottom of the fifth inning the snap a 3-3 tie and beat the Portsmouth Trojans 4-3 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Friday.
“We’re playing well. The more reps we get the better we will be,” said Ironton coach Red Burcham.
Portsmouth tied the game with an unearned run in the top of the fifth, but Ironton came back to score in the bottom of the inning with the decisive run.
With one out, Dane Wilson singled, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Kyle Kleinman.
Ironton took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Gage Salyers reached on an error, stole second, took third on a passed ball and scored on a hit by Wilson.
The Trojans tied the game in the top of the third but Ironton answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning.
With one out, Salyers and Wilson singled and an out late Kleinman and Brycen Thomas had RBI singles.
Portsmouth scored a run in the fourth and then got the tying run in the top of the fifth to set up Ironton’s winning rally.
Wilson went 3-3 with an RBI and Kleinman was 2-3 with a double and an RBI. Tyler Malone had a double.
Ryan Williams was 2-4 with two RBI and Vincent Schwamberger 2-3 to pace Portsmouth.
Garrett Carrico went five innings to get the win. He struck out seven and walked three. Wilson pitched the final two innings for the save as he fanned two and did not walk a batter.
On Monday, Ironton hosts Gallipolis and Portsmouth visits Fairland.
Portsmouth    001    110    0    =    3    8    1
Ironton       102    010    x    =    4    9    1
Ryan Williams and Blake Wedebrook. Garrett Carrico, Dane Wilson (6) and Brycen Thomas. W-Carrico (K-7, BB-3). Save-Wilson (K-2, BB-0). L-Williams (K-7, BB-0). Hitting-PHS: Ryan Williams 2-4 2-RBI, Vincent Schwamberger 2-3, Ty Oliver 1-4, William Sturgill 1-3 RBI, Zach Kinney 1-3, ; Ironton: Garrett Carrico 1-3, Dane Wilson 3-3 2-R RBI, Gage Salyers 1-3 2-R SB, Kyle Kleinman 2-3 2B RBI, Brycen Thomas 1-3 RBI, Tyler Malone 1-2 2B.