SOUTH WEBSTER - A big offense gave the Ironton Senior League All-Stars a big challenge.

With a 16-7 rout of Wheelersburg Tuesday, Ironton will play South Point at 6 p.m. Thursday in the District 11 Senior League All-Star Tournament.

Ironton advanced thanks to 13 hits off three different pitchers. Ryan Waginger and Drew Kuehne combined to hold Wheelersburg to six hits.

T.J. Keith went 3-for-4, Ryan Waginger 3-6 and Chris Rakes 2-5 to lead the Ironton offense.

Ironton wasted little time with two runs in the first inning.

Wes Runyon walked, Waginger singled, Nick Lewis was safe on a fielder's choice and Keith smacked a two-run double.

The lead went to 7-0 in the second inning.

Seth Kuehne and Ryan Allen walked, Rakes reached on a fielder's choice and Runyon singled home a run.

Waginger had an RBI single and Lewis and Keith walked to force in a run. Drew Kuehne singled to drive home two more runs.

Ironton got two more runs in the third inning to make it 9-0.

Ryan Schwab singled, Tanner Reed was safe on an error, Rakes hit into a fielder's choice and Waginger doubled home Reed and Rakes.

Wheelersburg erupted for six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on three walks, a two-out error and a three-run homer.

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

Rakes opened the inning with a triple, Runyon walked and stole second base and Keith singled to drive in both runners.

Wheelersburg managed to scratch out a run in the bottom of the inning, but Ironton scored five more times to put the game out of reach.

In the sixth inning, Geoffrey White and Ryan Schwab walked, moved up on a wild pitch and Reed had a two-run single.

Ironton scored its three final runs in the seventh inning.

Drew Kuehne was hit by a pitch and went to second base on a wild pitch. White singled to score Kuehne, Schwab walked, a wild pitch moved the runners up to second and third, Reed hit a sacrifice fly and Rakes singled to score Schwab.

Ironton2520223=16132

Wheelersburg0006100=762

Ryan Waginger, Drew Kuehne (5) and Tanner Reed, Seth Kuehne (2), Reed (3). Shuff, Blevings (3), Coburn (4) and Russell. W-Waginger (2-K, 5-BB). Save-D. Kuehne. L-Shuff. 2B-Ironton: Ryan Waginger, T.J. Keith. 3B-Ironton: Chris Rakes. HR-Wh: Coburn. Hitting-Ironton: T.J. Keith 3-4, Ryan Waginger 3-6, Chris Rakes 2-5, Geoffrey White 1-1, Drew Kuehne 1-2, Ryan Schwab 1-2, Tanner Reed 1-3, Wes Runyon 1-4; Wheelersburg: Blevings 2-4, Coburn 2-4, Mall 2-4.

Monday's Game

SOUTH WEBSTER - Wes gave the Newville bats less.

Wes Runyon gave a strong pitching effort as Ironton beat Newville 5-4 Monday in the District 11 Senior League tournament.

Runyon, who retired the first 11 batters of the game, pitched a six-hitter, struck out eight and did not walk a batter as he went six innings for the win. Ryan Waginger pitched a perfect seventh inning for the save.

Ironton took a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Chris Rakes and T.J. Keith both reached on errors and Waginger and Runyon had run-scoring singles.

The lead went to 3-0 in the fourth inning when Ryan Schwab singled, Tanner Reed was safe on an error and Nick Lewis hit a sacrifice fly.

Two more runs scored in the fifth inning to make it 5-0.

Runyon doubled and Schwab singled for a run. Reed was safe on an error, Rakes walked and Lewis had a run-scoring base hit.

Three hits and an error enabled Newville to score all four of its runs in the sixth inning.

Newville0000040=465

Ironton200120x=5113

Wes Runyon, Ryan Waginger (7) and Tanner Reed, Seth Kuehne (2), Reed (3). Craft and Luthers. W-Runyon (8-K, 0-BB). Save-Waginger (1-K, 0-BB, 0-H, 0-R). L-Craft.