Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — For a brief time on Saturday, John Jones’ Field could have been called Bloom Field.

Well, Darin Bloomfield.

The Coal Grove third baseman had a pair of doubles and drove in three runs as the Hornets beat the Rock Hill Redmen 3-1 on Saturday to win the Division III sectional tournament.

“Darin clutched up and hit the ball well. He’s been hitting the ball well the past few weeks,” said Hornets’ coach Dean Mader.

Daniel Rutherford pitched a three-hitter as Coal Grove won back-to-back sectional titles for the first time in school history. Rutherford struck out six, walked two and the one run was unearned.

Coal Grove (15-6) will play Zane Trace at 7 p.m. Friday in the district semifinals at Chillicothe Paint Stadium.

Landon Smith was the tough-luck loser for Rock Hill (14-7). Smith gave up only five hits, struck out four, walked four and allowed two earned runs.

“The kids played hard. We just didn’t execute the little things and because of that we couldn’t put any pressure on him. With the limited number of hits, you have to take advantage of the little things and we didn’t and they did,” said Redmen coach Barry Litteral.

The game was scoreless until the fourth when both teams got a run.

Rock Hill scored when Kaleb Kidd reached on a missed third strike, Kyle Stanfield singled to put runners on the corners and Kidd scored on an errant pickoff throw.

In the bottom of the inning, Dylan Malone walked and scored on a double by Bloomfield.

The Hornets broke the tie with two runs in the sixth.

Jeb Jones singled, Malone was safe on a fielder’s choice and both runners scored on Bloomfield’s second double.

Rock Hill threaten in the top of the seventh.

Seth Nichols was hit by a pitch and Mason Darby walked. Rock Hill attempted to sacrifice the runners but the ball was popped up near the mound and Rutherford made a diving catch, then while on the ground rolled over and threw to first base to complete the double play.

Rock Hill         000      100      0          =          1          3          1

Coal Grove      000      102      x          =          3          5          4

Landon Smith and Kaleb Kidd. Daniel Rutherford and Jeb Jones. W-Rutherford (K-6, BB-2, ER-0). L-Smith (K-4, BB-4, ER-2). Hitting-RH: Jake Blagg 1-3, Kyle Stanfield 1-3, Seth Nichols 1-2; CG: Jeb Jones 1-3, Dylan Malone 1-2, Darin Bloomfield 3-3 2-2B 2-RBI.