Pitching keys ISL all-stars win

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, July 2, 2008

SOUTH POINT — It might have been a hot day, but Howie Lucas cooled off the opponents’ bats as he fanned one after another.

Unfortunately for the Green Senior League All-Stars, the fanning by Lucas was in the form of strikeouts.

The Ironton SL All-Star pitcher fanned 16 batters as he fired a two-hitter in an 8-0 District 11 win Tuesday.

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Lucas, who threw just 95 pitches, walked only one and held Green hitless for 4.2 innings.

“Our pitching has carried us all year. Green had one of the better pitchers we’ve seen, but Howie pitched really well,” said Ironton All-Star coach Chuck Price.

‘We hit the ball, we just got started late.”

Jake Murphy belted a triple and scored on a passed ball to snap a scoreless tie in the third inning as Ironton got the only run it really needed.

The lead went to 3-0 in the fourth inning.

Tanner Riley walked and pinch-runner Pierce Reeves scored on a double by Lucas. Murphy followed with a run-scoring single.

Two more runs scored in the fifth when Josh Pancake and Wayne Sparks doubled for a run and Tommy Waginger had an RBI single.

The final two runs scored in the sixth.

Jonathan Williams doubled, Pancake walked, and Sparks reached on a three-base error to score the two runners. A throwing error allowed Sparks to score on the play.

Murphy was 2-5 with a double and triple and Sparks was 2-4. Williams was 1-1 plus three walks.

Ironton will play at 5:30 p.m. Friday against the winner of the Rock Hill-South Point game.

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Howie Lucas and Jake Murphy. Craig Lewis, Meenach (5), Moore (6) and McCloud. W-Lucas. L-Lewis. 2B-Ironton: Jonathan Williams, Josh Pancake, Wayne Sparks, Howie Lucas. 3B-Ironton: Jake Murphy. Hitting-Ironton: Jake Murphy 2-5, Jonathan Williams 1-1 (3 BB), Josh Pancake 1-2, Wayne Sparks 2-4, Aaron Conley 1-2, Tommy Waginger 1-4, Howie Lucas 1-3. Green: Moore 1-3, Fraley 1-3.