Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — The Hittin’ Hornets.
The Coal Grove Hornets got 10 hits en route to a 16-6 six-inning Ohio Valley Conference win over the Portsmouth Trojans on Wednesday.
“We hit the ball. The bats are coming around,” said Hornets’ coach Dean Mader. “We had one bad inning on defense, but other than that we made some plays.”
Coal Grove (8-3, 6-2) was led by Chase McKnight and Jacob Clark who were 2-3 with a double.
Jeb Jones and Darin Bloomfield were 2-4. Jones and Evan Friend each had a double.
McKnight double, Clark walked and Daniel Rutherford reached on an error. Jones had a two-run double, Dylan Malone grounded out as a run scored and Bloomfield singled in a run.
Jordan Case walked and Bloomfield stole third and came home on a throwing error. Case came home when Nate Harmon grounded out.
Portsmouth scored three runs in the top of the second but Coal Grove came back with three of its own.
McKnight walked, moved up on a passed ball and scored on Clark’s hit. Rutherford was walked, the runners pulled off a double steal, Malone hit a sacrifice fly and Bloomfield was safe on an error as a run scored.
The Trojans made it 9-5 in the top of the third but the Hornets answered with four runs.
Harmon and Evan Friend walked and came home on Clark’s double. Rutherford was walked, they had a double steal and Bloomfield had a two-run single.
Ryan Williams lined a home run for Portsmouth in the fourth.
Coal Grove got two runs in the bottom of the inning.
McKnight walked, moved up on a passed ball and Clark reached on an error as the run scored.
Clark stole second and scored on a hit by Rutherford.
The Hornets final run came in the sixth when Friend doubled and pinch-runner Kyle Sites scored on McKnight’s double.
Coal Grove visits St. Joseph on Thursday and hosts Ironton Friday. Portsmouth travels to Chesapeake on Friday.
Portsmouth    032    100    =    6    5    5
Coal Grove    634    201    =    16    10    5
Reese Johnson, Ethan Boggs (1), Ryan Williams (3), William Sturgill (5) and Mikey Potts. Dylan Malone, Nate Harmon (3), Ryan Singleton (5) and Jeb Jones. W-Harmon (IP-2.0, K-1, BB-2). Malone (IP-2.0, K-1, BB-2). Singleton (IP-2.0, K-1, BB-0). L-Johnson. Hitting-Ports: Ryan Williams 3-3 HR, Reese Johnson 1-3 2B, William Sturgill 1-3; CG: Chase McKnight 2-3 2-2B, Jacob Clark 2-3 2B, Daniel Rutherford 1-2, Jeb Jones 2-4 2B, Darin Bloomfield 2-4, Evan Friend 1-3 2B.