By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

SANDY HOOK, Ky. — Jesse Rigsby looked like a rookie, but he threw like a veteran.

In his first varsity start, the freshman went 5.2 innings allowing just three hits. He struck out seven and walked four. Jacob Pierce finished up and retired all five batters he faced including three strikeouts.

“Rigsby threw well for his first varsity start. He’s just a freshman and he’s still learning, but he threw with confidence,” said Hornets’ coach Dean Mader.

Coal Grove banged out 16 hits in the win with Jake Jewell going 2-5 with a double and a triple and three runs batted in. Cody Pennington was 3-4 with two RBI while Garrett Myers and Pierce each went 2-3.

The game was scoreless until the third when Jordan Beals reached on an error, stole second base and scored on Pennington’s base hit to put the Hornets up 1-0.

The lead went to 4-0 in the fourth when Pierce and Myers singled and scored on a hit by Jonathan Joseph who stole second and third and scored on a wild pitch.

Pennington singled, stole second and scored on a hit by Pierce and it was 5-0 in the fifth inning.

The lead went to 7-0 in the sixth. Myers and Brandon Doyle singled and Pennington singled to drive in Myers and pinch-runner Garrett Arnett.

Coal Grove (1-3) erupted for six runs in the seventh inning to put the game out of reach.

Elijah Ford singled, Myers was safe on an error and Austin Gumbert had a two-run single. Beals was safe on an error, Pennington was hit by a pitch and Jewell tripled to empty the bases.

The Hornets managed just five hits and lost 11-3 to East Carter on Saturday.

Thursday’s Game

Coal Grove 001 312 6 = 13 16 1

Elliott County 000 000 0 = 0 3 9

Jesse Rigsby, Jacob Pierce (6) and Jake Jewell. Dominic Thompson and Luis Loza. W-Rigsby (K-7, BB-4, H-3). Pierce K-3, BB-0, H-0. L-Thompson. 2B-CG: Jake Jewell. 3B-CG: Jake Jewell. Hitting-Coal Grove: Cody Pennington 3-4 2-rbi, Jacob Pierce 2-3 rbi, Jake Jewell 2-5 3-rbi, Elijah Ford 1-1, Garrett Myers 2-3, Austin Gumbert 1-1, Conor Markins 1-5, Joe Colley 1-2, Brandon Doyle 1-1, Jonathan Joseph 1-4 2-rbi; Elliott: Zack Martin 1-4, Dominic Thompson 1-2, Randy Whitley 1-1.

Saturday’s Game

Coal Grove 000 030 0 = 3 5 5

East Carter 210 440 x = 11 11 0

Garrett Myers, Jesse Rigsby (3) and Jake Jewell. Genning and Wells. W-Genning. L-Myers. 2B-CG: Conor Markins; EC: Coleman 2. Hitting-Coal Grove: Conor Markins 1-3, Mason Nance 1-3, Joe Colley 1-3, Jake Jewell 1-3, Garrett Myers 1-3; East Carter: Genning 2-3, Coleman 3-4, Robinson 2-4, Greenwill 2-4, Kratzenberg 1-4, Duncan 1-4.