ASHLAND, Ky.

Saturday, April 29, 2000

ASHLAND, Ky. – Sometimes the Ironton Fighting Tigers take generosity a little too far.

Being kind and generous to one’s fellow man is a commendable trait, but not when it comes to playing baseball.

Ironton had four errors that helped the Ashland Tomcats post a 5-1 win Friday over the Fighting Tigers.

"When you’re playing good teams, you have to execute and make the plays. You can’t give good teams extra chances or they’ll do just what Ashland did to us today," Ironton coach Mark Lewis said.

Mark Mains (2-4) took yet another tough-luck loss. Mains allowed just five hits, struck out three, walked two, but three of the runs he allowed were unearned.

"Mark deserved a better fate. He pitched well enough to win, we just didn’t hit the ball the way we have been. But you have to give their pitcher some credit for that," said Lewis.

Ashland’s Trey Lewis scattered six Ironton hits, fanned three, and walked only one in going the distance.

The Tomcats (9-9) got two earned runs in the first when Eric Salow singled, Chad Hieneman tripled, and Jeremy Gill singled.

Some shaky defense led to two more Ashland runs in the second.

Bill Hendrickson was safe on an error to start the inning. After a pop out, Derek Cannoy was hit by a pitch and Hayes Templeton flied out for what should have been the third out.

A throwing error scored Hendrickson and then Salow was safe on an error as the second run scored.

Ironton got its run in the third when Matt Johnson drew a one-out walk, Drew Mains doubled, and Jon Sites reached on an error as Johnson scored.

The Tomcats got the run back in the fourth when Dustin Allgood walked, was sacrificed to second, and scored on an errant pickoff throw.

The Fighting Tigers failed on two more scoring chances.

Clark Cooper and Sites singled in the fifth but were left stranded. Mark Mains singled and was balked to second in the seventh only to be left on the base paths as the game ended.

Ironton is now 9-7.

"We’ve had a tough week of games and we went 3-3 and could have won a couple more," said Lewis. "We just need to work, try to get better, and get ourselves ready for the tournament."

The Fighting Tigers host Portsmouth at 5 p.m. Monday.

Ironton 001 000 0 – 1 6 4

Ashland 220 100 x – 5 5 2

Mark Mains and Jon Sites. Trey Lewis and Bill Hendrickson. W-Lewis (3-K, 1-W). L-Mains (3-K, 2-W). 2B-Ironton: Drew Mains. 3B-Ashland: Chad Hieneman. Sac-Ashland: Derek Cannoy. Balk-Lewis. HBP-by Mains (Derek Cannoy). DP-Ironton 1. LOB-Ironton 7, Ashland 4. Hitting-Ironton: Drew Mains 1-4, Clark Cooper 1-4, Jon Sites 1-3, Jimmy Peyton 1-3, Greg Mountain 1-3, Mark Mains 1-3; Ashland: Eric Salow 1-3, Chad Hieneman 1-2, Jeremy Gill 2-3, Mark Justice 1-1.