By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

MINFORD — It was just too many mistakes.

The Coal Grove Hornets were guilty of five errors that enabled the Minford Falcons to pick up a 4-0 win on Wednesday in the Division III sectional tournament.

“You put yourself in a position to beat yourself and the other team will do it,” said Hornets’ coach Dean Mader.

“We still battled and we hit the ball, we just didn’t put things together and we didn’t get any breaks. Minford didn’t make an error and we made five. That was the difference.”

Jake Murphy pitched well in suffering the loss for the Hornets. Murphy struck out eight, walked only one and gave up six hits.

Tyler Sanford got the win as he gave up six hits, struck out eight and did not walk a batter.

The game was scoreless until the fourth inning when an error and single by Brandon Lore gave Minford a 1-0 lead.

Another error, a single by Jared McCray and Sanford’s double pushed the lead to 3-0 in the fifth. Lore then singled home the final run.

“This was a fun group and they showed improvement. I’m real proud of these kids,” said Mader.

Murphy was 2-3 as he finished the season with a batting average hovering around an amazing .700 with 25 stolen bases. He struck out just four times all season.

“He had as good of a season as I have ever seen,” said Mader.

Cody Pennington doubled while Conor Markins, Mason Nance and Levi Morris all had hits for the Hornets who finished 4-12.

Coal Grove 000 000 0 = 0 6 5

Minford 000 130 x = 4 6 0

Jake Murphy and Jared Eldridge. Tyler Sanford and Justin Miller. W-Sanford (K-8, BB-0). L-Murphy (K-8, BB-1). 2B-Coal Grove: Cody Pennington; Minford: Tyler Sanford. Hitting-Coal Grove: Jake Murphy 2-3, Cody Pennington 1-3, Conor Markins 1-3, Mason Nance 1-2, Levi Morris 1-2; Minford: Tyler Sanford 1-3 rbi-2, Jared McCray 1-3, Brandon Lore 2-2 rbi-2, Quentin Smith 1-3, Austin Oesch 1-3.