Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — As they say in the Navy, all hands on deck.
The Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers had everyone involved as they edged the Coal Grove Lady Hornets 6-5 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Friday.
“Tonight was a team effort. I am so proud of the girls for their effort and contributions to our win. Everyone contributed either defensively or at the plate,” said Ironton coach Missy Fields.
Ironton (8-3) got 12 hits and scored the deciding run in the top of the seventh inning.
With one out, Aley Carmon reached on an error, stole second, went to third on a hit by Ruth Paholsky ands cored on Taiya Hamlet’s fourth hit of the game.
Ironton took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Riley Schreck was safe on an error and Kenzie Cremeens unloaded a two-run homer.
“Cremeens has been working on being patient at the plate and tonight her swing was smooth. Hamlet is hitting the ball well. She continues to listen and perform in the box,” said Fields.
Coal Grove tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the third.
Lauren Meyer got a one-out single, Gracie Riley reached on an error and Kasey Murphy belted a two-run double.
Each team got a run in the third.
Paholsky walked, Hamlet singled and Peight Rowe had an RBI double for Ironton.
Coal Grove answered as Mckenzie Moore doubled and scored on Khylee Keaton’s base hit.
Ironton took a 4-3 lead in the fifth when Cremeens singled, stole second, went to third on a throwing error and scored on a wild pitch.
The lead went to 5-3 in the sixth on a single by Demi Sands, a double by Haylee Stevens and an RBI single by Schreck.
But Coal Grove tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the inning.
With one out, Keaton singled and scored when Destiny Napier reached on a three-base error. Riley then had a two-out RBI single to tie the game.
That set up Ironton’s winning rally in the seventh.
Mary Beth Burton — who worked two innings in relief for the win — got the side out in order in the bottom of the seventh.
Besides Hamley, Cremeens was 2-4 with two RBI.
Meyer and Riley each went 2-4 and Keaton 2-3 for the Lady Hornets.
On Monday, Ironton visits Chesapeake and Coal Grove is at Gallipolis.
Ironton       200    111    1    =    6    12    2
Coal Grove    002    102    0    =    5    10    1
Peighton Rowe, Mary Beth Burton (6) and Kenzie Cremeens. Kasey Murphy and Lauren Crum. W-Burton (IP-2.0, K-2, H-2, R-2, ER-0). Rowe (IP-5.0, H-8, R-3, ER-1). L-Murphy (K-3, BB-4, ER-4). Hitting-Ironton: Haylee Stevens 1-4 2B, Riley Schreck 1-2, Kenzie Cremeens 2-4 2-RBI HR, Ruth Paholsky 1-2, Taiya Hamlet 4-4, Peighton Rowe 1-4 RBI 2B, Demi Sands 1-4, M’Kenzie McMaster 1-1; CG: Lauren Meyer 2-4, Gracie Riley 2-4, Kasey Murphy 1-4 RBI 2B, Lauren Crum 1-4 RBI, Mckenzie Moore 1-4 2B, Ali Waller 1-3, Khylee Keaton 2-3 RBI.