Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — The Coal Grove Hornets understand the cliché, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”

The Hornets refuse to stop trying and their efforts paid off on Thursday with an 8-6 win over the Portsmouth Trojans.

“The kids are still battling. We have been playing well the past two weeks. We were bound to get a win,” said Hornets’ coach Dean Mader.

Jacob Pierce got the win for the Hornets as he allowed seven hits, struck out five and walked three. He also went 2-3 at the plate with an RBI.

Alex Bare and Conor Markins each went 3-4 as the Hornets got 12 hits. Bare drove in three runs and Markins had two RBIs. Jesse Rigsby went 2-3.

The Trojans took a 1-0 lead in the third, but the Hornets erupted for six runs in the fourth.

Pierce walked, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on Cody Pennington’s hit. After Pennington stole second, Markins had an RBI single.

Travis Carey and Isaiah Gunther were hit by pitches and Bare had a two-run single. Mason Nance hit into a fielder’s choice for a run and Rigsby and Pierce had hits to drive in a run.

Portsmouth answered with five runs in the firth to tie the game, but the Hornets took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning.

Jonathan Joseph singled, Gunther hit into a fielder’s choice and Bare had an RBI single.

Coal Grove got an insurance run in the sixth when Rigsby singled, Pierce reached on an error and Markins had a run-scoring single.

Portsmouth 000 105 0 = 6 7 3

Coal Grove 000 611 x = 8 12 2

Alex Grashel, Brandon Wedebrook (5) and Shoupe. Jacob Pierce and Jesse Rigsby. W-Pierce (K-5, BB-3, HBP-1). L-Grashel (IP-4, H-9, K-3, BB-2, HBP-2). Wedebrook IP-2, H-3. 2B-Portsmouth: Delotell. Hitting-Portsmouth: Jacob Albrecht 1-4, Brandon Wedebrook 1-4, Tanner Poage 2-4 rbi, Shoupe rbi, sky Oliver 1-2, Zach Delotell 2-3; CG: Alex Bare 3-4 rbi-3, Jesse Rigsby 2-3, Jacob Pierce 2-3 rbi, Cody Pennington 1-4 rbi, Conor Markins 3-4 rbi-2, Jonathan Joseph 1-3.