KENOVA, W.

Friday, April 06, 2001

KENOVA, W.Va. – There were some things about this game that Ironton coach Mark Lewis didn’t like, but he preferred to focus on the things he did like.

The Fighting Tigers had plenty of good things to look at after outlasting the Spring Valley Timberwolves 11-9 Thursday.

"We put too many runners on base. You walk nine and hit three batters and still win says something about your offense. We hit the ball the best we have this season and we hit it hard," said Lewis.

On the plus side, Ironton (5-2) had eight different batters combine for 11 hits led by Mark Mains who went 2-for-4 with a double and three runs batted in. Josh Harmon was 2-for-3, Greg Mountain 1-for-2 with three RBI, and Matt White hit a solo home run.

"We had 11 runs and 11 hits. We need to have more of that kind of hitting and we’ll score runs," Harmon said.

Spring Valley (3-3) had just six hits, but the nine walks and three hit batsmen helped the Timberwolves stay in the game.

"Our pitching wasn’t real sharp," said Lewis.

Neither team scored until the fourth inning.

Ironton took a 3-0 lead when Sands tripled, Mountain hit a sacrifice fly, White homered to left, Chad Parker doubled, and Mains singled him home.

The Timberwolves countered with four runs in their half of the inning thanks to three straight walks and singles by Skyler Smith, Neil Elkins, and Jacob Johnson.

Ironton exploded for eight runs in the sixth to take the lead for good.

Harmon singled and Mountain, White, and Parker walked to force in a run. Mains doubled for two more, Matt Spears was safe on a throwing error as a run scored, and Drew Mains singled in two more.

Sands reached on an error, Harmon was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Mountain singled in the final two.

Spring Valley got a run back in the bottom of the inning on a single by Drew Bailey, two walks and a hit batsman.

The T-Wolves made it interesting with four runs in the seventh.

With one out, Anthony Pulley singled, and then two walks loaded the bases. Elkins was safe on a fielder’s choice that scored a run and left the bases loaded, Johnson reached on an error as two more scored, and Howard beat out an infield roller as a run scored.

But Mountain got the next batter to ground out to first base and end the game.

Sands picked up his first career win as he worked 2.1 innings allowing one run, one hit, striking out two and walking two.

Ironton plays at Greenup County, Ky., at 5:30 p.m. Friday.