By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

COAL GROVE — The hits have started to come. Now the wins just need to follow.

Coal Grove banged out 10 hits but the Hornets fell just short as they lost 6-5 to the Raceland Rams on Monday.

“We’ve started hitting the ball, we just need to score more runs,” said Hornets’ coach Dean Mader. “I was pleased with our defense, too.”

Raceland (5-6) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning but the Hornets answered with two in the bottom of the inning.

Mason Nance singled and scored on Jake Jewell’s double. Jewell then stole third base and scored on a passed ball.

The Rams tied the game in the fourth only to the Coal Grove take a 3-2 lead in the fifth.

Joe Colley singled, Nance sacrificed pinch-runner Jordan Beals who stole third and scored on a passed ball.

Raceland then scored four runs in the sixth to lead 6-3.

The Hornets mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh.

Nance doubled, stole third and scored on when Jewell grounded out. Conor Markins followed with an inside-the-park home run but the rally came up short.

Cody Pennington went 3-3 for the Hornets while Nance was 2-3 and Markins 2-4.

Coal Grove (3-9) hosts Portsmouth Notre Dame on Tuesday. The Hornets also host River Valley on Thursday and the school will hold a dedication ceremony at the field for the late coach John Jones beginning at 4:45 p.m.

Raceland 100 104 0 = 6 6 2

Coal Grove 200 010 2 = 5 10 0

Josh Reed, Kyle Morris (7) and Ryan Tolliver. Jessie Rigsby, Garrett Myers (6) and Jake Jewell, Jessie Rigsby (6). W-Reed (K-5, BB-0, H-7, R-5). Save-Morris (K-1, BB-1, H-3, HBP-2). L-Rigsby (K-6, BB-5, H-5, R-6). Myers K-3, BB-0, H-1, R-0. 2B-Raceland: Ryan Tolliver; CG: Mason Nance, Jake Jewell. HR-CG: Conor Markins. Hitting-Raceland: Ryan Tolliver 1-3, Kyle Moore1-2, Josh Reed 1-2, Zayne Sammons 2-3, Kyle Morris 1-2; Coal Grove: Mason Nance 2-3, Jake Jewell 1-4, Conor Markins 2-4, Cody Pennington 3-3, Garrett Myers 1-4, Joe Colley 1-1.