Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PEDRO — Goal one: Win the league. Check. Goal two: Win the sectional. Check.

With no worse than a share of the Ohio Valley Conference softball title in hand, the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers added the Division III sectional championship on Saturday as they slipped past the Rock Hill Redwomen 4-2.

Ironton (16-5) can now set its sights on a new goal as the Lady Tigers play Westfall at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday in the district semifinals at Chillicothe Unioto High School.

Mary Beth Burton pitched a four-hitter and Peighton Rowe nailed down the save as Ironton held on for the win.

Jill Hairston pitched well in her final game. She struck out two, walked only one and gave up three earned runs in going the distance.

Aley Carmon was 2-4 with a double, Taiya Hamlet was 2-4 with an RBI, M’Kenzie McMaster was 2-4, Rowe 2-2 and Ruth Paholsky drove in two runs.

Madison Harper was 1-3 with a home run and Rileigh Morris 2-4 with a double and an RBI to pace the Redwomen.

Ironton took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when Carmon, McMaster and Demi Sands all singled to load the bases and Burton hit a sacrifice fly.

Rock Hill tied the game in the bottom of the inning as Harper unloaded a solo home run.

The Lady Tigers took a 3-1 lead in the top of the fifth.

Kenzie Cremeens was safe on an error, Hamlet singled and both moved up on a throw. Paholsky then delivered a two-run single.

The Redwomen got a run back in the bottom of the inning when Kelsey Olderham led off with a walk and scored on a double by Rileigh Morris.

Ironton added an insurance run in the sixth.

Burton and Rowe both singled and after two force plays Hamlet singled in a run.

Rock Hill threatened in the bottom of the fifth when they loaded the bases. But a double play and a comebacker ground out ended the rally.

Ironton            010      021      0          =          4          10        2

Rock Hill         010      010      0          =          2          4          2

Mary Beth Burton, Peighton Rowe (7) and Kenzie Cremeens. Jill Hairston and Gracie Stevens. W-Burton (IP-6.0, K-7, BB-4, H-4, R-2, ER-2). Save-Rowe (IP-1.0, BB-1). L-Hairston (K-2, BB-1, ER-3). Hitting-Ironton: Taiya Hamlet 2-4 RBI, Aley Carmon 2-4 2B, Ruth Paholsky 1-4 2-RBI, M’Kenzie McMaster 2-4, Demi Sands 1-4, Mary Beth Burton 1-3 RBI, Peighton Rowe 2-2; RH: Rileigh Morris 2-4 2B RBI, Jill Hairston 1-3, Gracie Stevens 2-BB, Madison Harper 1-3 HR RBI.