The Ironton Fighting Tigers wanted a couple of things out of Tuesday's Division III sectional championship game. They got one of the two, but they did get the most important.

Ironton senior righthander Chad Parker was closing in on a no-hitter only to lose the possible masterpiece in the fifth inning. Still, the Fighting Tigers got what they really wanted by beating the South Point Pointers 13-2 in five innings.

With the win, Ironton (21-3) advances to play Wellston at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the district tournament at the University of Rio Grande.

Wellston edged Crooksille 7-6 in 8 innings.

Parker had to settle for a two-hitter as he improved to 6-1 on the season. He struck out nine and walked two.

"I knew I had (a no-hitter). I hung a curve ball. I didn't make a very good pitch, but I'll take a win any day," Chad Parker said.

Parker was cruising along with a no-hitter until Tyler Staton singled to center field on an 0-2 pitch to start the fifth inning.

Dale Kinney followed with a walk, a wild pitch moved the runners up, and Caleb Copley had a two-run single.

"I think the layoff in the previous inning might have bothered Chad. He wasn't as sharp when he came back out the next inning," said Lewis.

The layoff came in the bottom of the fourth when Ironton put the game away with eight runs.

With one out, Josh Sands singled and went to second on an error. Chris Collins doubled home a run, Matt Johnson was safe on an error, and Kevin Williams had a two-run double.

Derek Moore singled and two wild pitches scored a run. Parker then doubled home two runs, Greg Mountain walked, Sands reached when his third strike got away from the catcher, and Collins had an RBI singled.

Ironton had jumped on starter Justin Eaches for five runs the first inning.

Williams, Moore, and White all singled for a run. Parker singled in a run and Sands slugged a two-home.

The Fighting Tigers rapped out 12 hits with Sands, Parker, and Collins each going 2-for-3 with two runs batted in, Moore 2-3, and Williams 2-4 with two RBI.

The Pointers

fell to 9-11.

South Point00002--224

Ironton5008x--13121

Justin Eaches, Seth Craft (5) and Dale Kinney. Chad Parker and Greg Mountain. W-Parker 6-1 (9-K, 2-W, 1-ER). L-Eaches (0-K, 0-W, 12-H, 7-ER). (Craft 3-K, 2-W, 1-H, 1-R). WP-Parker, Craft 3. SB-South Point: Josh Tibbetts. 2B-Ironton: Chris Collins, Kevin Williams, Chad Parker. HR-Ironton: Josh Sands. Hitting-South Point: Tyler Staton 1-2, Caleb Copley 1-2 (2 RBI); Ironton: Kevin Williams 2-4 (2 RBI), Derek Moore 2-3, Matt White 1-3 (RBI), Chad Parker 2-3 (2 RBI), Tyler Whaley 1-3 (RBI), Josh Sands 2-3 (2 RBI), Chris Collins 2-3 (2 RBI). Jim Walker/The Ironton Tribune