By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

CHESAPEAKE — Down but not out.

Trailing late in their fourth straight game, the Ironton Fighting Tigers rallied once again as they beat the Chesapeake Panthers 6-5 on Monday.

“Our kids have shown a lot of character. They’ve been down the last four game and refused to throw in the towel,” said Ironton coach Tobey Schreck.

Chesapeake led 5-1 after five innings bu Ironton scored four times in the sixth to tie the game and pushed across the winning run in the seventh.

In the sixth, Maurice Phillips walked, Trevor Easterling singled and Sean Lawless doubled home both runners.

Derek Battise and Cody Roberts both reached on errors as a run scored and Brandon Leach hit into a fielder’s choice as Battise came home to tie the game.

Steve Easterling drew a one-out walk, stole second and third bases and scored on Trevor Easterling’s base hit to give Ironton a 6-5 lead in the seventh.

The Fighting Tigers went up 1-0 in the third on a double by Lawless and a single by Battise.

Chesapeake took a 3-1 lead win the fourth when Brandon Noble singled, Tommy Noble was hit by a pitch, Mike Walters singled, Hunter Bare doubled home two and a wild pitch scored the final run.

The Panthers got two more runs in the fifth inning.

Logan Chapman was safe on an error, Brandon Noble walked, Tommy Noble put down a sacrifice and Walters delivered a two-run single.

Lawless was 3-4 with two doubles and two runs batted in. Trevor Easterling and Battise were 2-5 with an RBI.

Steve Easterling came on in the sixth to get the win. He struck out four as he retired all six batters he faced.

Brandon Noble went 2-2 while Walters and Bare were 2-3 to account for all of Chesapeake’s hits.

In the Division III sectionals, Chesapeake is at South Point on Wednesday and Ironton hosts Minford at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

Ironton 001 004 1 = 6 9 2

Chesapeake 000 320 0 = 5 6 3

Derek Battise, Sean Lawless (4), Steve Easterling (6) and Steve Easterling, Maurice Phillips (6). Mikey Walters, Hunter Bare (7) and Brandon Noble. W-Easterling (IP-2, K-4, BB-0, H-0). L-Bare. 2B-Ironton: Sean Lawless 2; Chesapeake: Hunter Bare. Hitting-Ironton: Trevor Easterling 2-5 rbi, Sean Lawless 3-4 2-rbi, Derek Battise 2-5 rbi, Cody Roberts 1-4, Brandon Leach 1-3 rbi; Chesapeake: Mikey Walters 2-3, Hunter Bare 2-3, Brandon Noble 2-2.