PORTSMOUTH – The pitching matched the hitting: very impressive.

Wednesday, July 11, 2001

PORTSMOUTH – The pitching matched the hitting: very impressive. The Ironton Senior League All-Stars opened up District 11 pool play with two impressive wins.

On Saturday, Josh Sands pitched a two-hitter and struck out 17 as Ironton beat South Webster 6-2.

Sands walked five, two forcing in the only South Webster runs.

Tyler Whaley slammed a two-run homer to key the Ironton offense.

Home runs were part of an unbelievable hitting barrage Tuesday as Ironton crushed Northwest 34-0 in a game called in the fifth inning.

Ben Murphy hit a towering home run, Kevin Williams also homered, and Nick Collins crashed a grand slam.

Matt White struck out five in three innings. Jameson McKnight fanned two in one inning of work.

Northwest did not have a hit and the game was called in the top of the fifth after Ironton had scored seven more runs and had the bases loaded with no outs.

Ironton now plays Newville at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The winner goes to the championship round at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in the best 2-out-of-3 series.