JACKSON - Friday’s Division III district championship game was lost on Thursday night.

Huh?

After winning 4-3 over Lucasville Valley in eight innings Thursday, the Ironton Fighting Tigers didn’t play with the same intensity Friday as they lost 5-2 to the Federal Hocking Lancers.

Ironton and Lucasville began their game on Monday only to be postponed until Thursday due to rain. Federal Hocking beat Unioto 7-2 on Monday, then waited for their opponent.

&uot;It was one of those days that just wasn’t meant to be,&uot; Ironton coach Mark Lewis said.

&uot;I think we felt the effects of (Thursday) night. You wouldn’t think you’d be flat for the district finals, but the game with Valley was sudden death and the outcome hinged on every pitch. It was very emotional.&uot;

Ironton (14-10) was coasting early behind the pitching of Josh Adkins who struck out seven of the first 10 batters he faced. The only baserunner was Tyler Chadwell who singled with two outs in the second inning.

But in the fourth inning, Adkins walked Joel Gandee leading off and seemed zapped at that point.

Brad Grimm beat out an infield hit and then Nick Springer tripled to score both runners. Adkins struck out the next two batters but gave up a two-run homer to Aaron Rupe and it was 4-0.

Ironton answered with two runs in the top of the fifth inning.

Nick Collins beat out an infield hit and Dustin Preston singled off the fence in left. Brigham Waginger singled to left for one run and Adam Ferguson hit a sacrifice fly.

The Lancers got a run in the sixth when Jared Williams walked with two outs, stole second, and A.J. Smith had an RBI single.

Adkins took the loss despite striking out 10 in five innings.

&uot;Our pitching was good enough to win, we just didn’t hit,&uot; Lewis said.

Ironton was again without its top pitcher and leading hitter Kevin Williams who missed his second straight game with an ankle injury.

Ironton0000200-251

Fed. Hocking000401x-561

Josh Adkins, Dennis Gagai (5) and Dustin Preston. Brad Grimm and Greg Poston. W-Grimm 2-R, 2-ER, 7-K, 2-W, 5-H. L-Adkins (3-2) 4-R, 4-ER, 5-H, 10-K, 1-W. Gagai 1-R, 1-ER, 1-K, 2-W, 1-H, 1-HBP.

SB-Ironton: Brigham Waginger, Austin Thomas; Fed. Hocking: Joel Grandee, Jared Willis. 3B-Fed. Hocking: Nick Springer. HR-Fed. Hocking: Aaron Rupe. Sac-Ironton: Adam Ferguson. SF-Ironton: Adam Ferguson. LOB-Ironton 2, Federal Hocking 5. Hitting-Ironton: Dennis Gagai 1-2, Nick Collins 1-3, Dustin Preston 1-3, Brigham Waginger 2-3 (rbi).

Records: Ironton 14-10, Federal Hocking 20-6.