Greg Mountain got the complete game, but Josh Harmon still got the save.

Thursday, April 27, 2000

Greg Mountain got the complete game, but Josh Harmon still got the save.

Mountain got his first career complete game, but it was a defensive gem by Harmon that preserved the win as the Ironton Fighting Tigers edged the Lawrence County Bulldogs 2-1 Wednesday.

Mountain, a freshman, struck out two, walked four – two intentionally – and allowed just six hits as he ran his record to 2-1.

"I threw pretty well. I’m glad I didn’t walk that many. I didn’t want to go through what I did the other day," said Mountain.

Ironton (8-5) led 2-0 after five innings, but the Bulldogs mounted a rally in the sixth.

Adam Blevins reached on an error, Ryan Sammons singled to left, and Eric Parker put down a sacrifice bunt. Bud Castle’s fly ball was dropped for an error as a run scored and sent Sammons to third.

Mountain got the next batter on a pop up for the second out, and Adam Kirk was walked intentionally. Mark Murphy hit a fly ball that appeared to be dropping for a base hit. But Harmon came running, stretched out and made a diving catch to end the inning.

"I didn’t think I would get it at first. I didn’t get a good jump on the ball. But as I got closer I thought I had a good chance," said Harmon.

Ironton coach Mark Lewis had nothing but praise for Mountain and Harmon.

"Mountain gave us a real shot in the arm. That’s a good team and we really didn’t have the pitching to use a lot of people today with two more games this week. He pitched a heck of a game," said Lewis.

"And I don’t think you can say enough about Harmon. That was a whale of a catch. He saved us. He’s played a great center field for us, and he had the big hit."

Harmon not only made the catch to save the win, but his triple in the first inning drove in both Ironton runs.

Clark Cooper reached on an error, Jon Sites walked, and, after Chad Parker hit into a fielder’s choice, Harmon cranked a long triple off the fence in right-center.

Lawrence County (8-9) threatened in the seventh.

O’pell doubled to start the inning and went to third when C. J. Caudill grounded out to first. Blevins popped out for the second out, and Sammons was intentionally walked. Mountain then struck out the next batter to end the game.

"I know you don’t put the winning run on base, but he had three hits and I figured we had a better chance with the next guy. Fortunately, it all worked out," said Lewis.

The Fighting Tigers hosts No. 1-ranked Wheelersburg Thursday.

Lawrence Co. 000 001 0 – 1 6 1

Ironton 200 000 x – 2 5 4

Bradley O’pell, Mark Allen (5) and Eric Parker. Greg Mountain and Jon Sites. W-Mountain 2-1 (2-K, 4-W, 2-IW). WP-Mountain. LOB-Lawrence Co. 12, Ironton 4. 2B-LC: Ryan Sammons, Bradley O’pell; Ironton: Mark Mains. 3B-Ironton: Josh Harmon. Sac-LC: Eric Parker. Hitting-LC: Adam Kirks 2-3, Bradley O’pell 1-4, Ryan Sammons 3-3; Ironton: Clark Cooper 1-3, Jon Sites 1-2, Josh Harmon 1-3 (2 RBI), Mark Mains 1-3, Greg Mountain 1-2.