Tough opener.

Tuesday, March 27, 2001

Tough opener. Good win. The Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers surprised the Northwest Lady Mohawks Monday as they won their season opener 4-2.

Ashley McCloud fired a 3-hitter and struck out four as Ironton knocked off Northwest. Melissa Cielec went 2-for-4, Jessica Ensor 1-3 and Carly Isaac 1-4 to lead the Ironton offense.

"I was really pleased with the way we played this early. Northwest has a real good team. We’ll need this because we have Portsmouth and South Point this week," Ironton coach Pete McCloud.

Ironton is at Portsmouth Tuesday and South Point Wednesday.

The Lady Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the first when Isaac singled, McCloud reached on an error, and Rachel McClellan reached on a fielder’s choice.

A triple, single, and error gave Northwest its runs in the top of the fifth to tie the game.

Ironton then scored twice in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. Isaac, McCloud, McClellan and Maria Frazer all reached on errors.

"We bunted well and advanced runners and then we scored. They made a few more mistakes than we did, but our bunting and baserunning really won the game for us," said McCloud.

Rock Hill 11, Green 2

FRANKLIN FURNACE – The old and the new came together in a big way.

Senior Tess Howard pitched a two-hitter and freshmen contributed in a big way as the Rock Hill Redwomen toppled the Green Lady Bobcats 11-2 Monday in the season opener.

Howard struck out eight and walked three in doing the distance.

"Howard threw the ball well. Green has some nice looking hitters and she did a good job just throwing strikes and limiting the walks. That was the key," Rock Hill coach Mike Blagg said.

"(Cassy) Chaffins stepped in and went 3-for-4, and Kesha Rupp is just a freshman and went 2-for-3. The freshmen scored five of our runs. They did a good job along with the seniors."

Rock Hill went up 2-0 in the top of the first.

Tia Russell reached on a passed ball, stole second, and took third on a bunt single by Kesha Rupp. Howard then singled in a run and Cassy Chaffins’ base hit scored Rupp.

Green got a run in the bottom of the inning when Bradley was safe on an error, Hall and Cline walked, and an error.

The Redwomen made it 6-1 in the second.

Courtney Wurts singled and took third on an error. Marie Moore’s base hit score Wurts and an errant throw put Moore at second. Russell doubled in a run and Rupp had an RBI single. Rupp stole second and came home on Crystal Mullins’ base hit.

A run scored in the second. Moore singled, moved up on a fielder’s choice, and Russell had a two-out single.

Mullins got a base hit and stole second and third to begin the fourth. Howard walked and went to second on a stolen base. Chaffins doubled in two runs and scored on an error.

The final two runs scored in the fifth.

Russell led off with a walk, stole second and third, and scored on Rupp’s base hit. Mullins walked, a double steal put runners at second and third, and Howard hit into a fielder’s choice as Rupp scored.

Green’s final run came across in the bottom of the inning. McDavid had a one-out walk, moved up on a wild pitch, and scored on a two-out single by Hall.

Chaffins was 3-for-4 with four runs batted in to lead a 14-hit assault. Mullins was 2-3, Russell 2-3 with three runs scored, and Moore 3-3 with an RBI.