Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

Little things do mean a lot.

Ironton failed to do some little things right in a 3-2 loss to the Raceland Rams on Thursday.

Ironton had some misplays and two errors that led to a pair of unearned runs in the loss and spoiled a strong pitching performance by Luke Diamond.

“We played well enough to win,” said Ironton coach Larry Goodwin. “Luke pitched well enough to win. We just made a few little mistakes that cost us the game.

“Baseball is a game of little things. Do the little things right and you put yourself in a good position to win. We must step up our game the final week of the season and get ready for tournament play.”

Diamond allowed just five hits in going the distance. He sturck out four and walked eight.

Ironton jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

Luke Kelly had a one-out single and Diamond drove him home with a double.

Raceland tied the game with a run in the third inning. Alex Risner reached on a missed third strike but was erased when Tyler Morris was safe on a fielder’s choice.

Morris moved up on a ground out and scored on a hit by Trey Mills.

The Rams went up 2-1 in the fourth when John Cherry walked, Cody Gellitue put down a sacrifice bunt and Kyle Moore had an RBI single.

The Fighting Tigers tied the game in the bottom of the sixth.

Hunter Weber walked and stole second. Tanner Price moved him to third on a sacrifice bunt where he scored on a passed ball.

The Rams got the winning run in the top of the seventh when Nick Cellier walked and came around to score when Mills reached on a two-base throwing error.

Ironton is scheduled to host Chesapeake at 5:30 p.m. Monday.

Raceland 001 100 1 = 3 5 0

Ironton 100 001 0 = 2 6 2

Tyler Morris, Nathan Davidson (6) and Nick Cellier. Luke Diamond and Hunter Weber. W-Davidson (IP-2, K-1,BB-2). L-Diamond (K-4, BB-8, ER-1). Hitting-Raceland: Kyle Moore 1-2 rbi, Alex Risner 1-4, Trey Mills 2-4 rbi, Brady Harris 1-4; Ironton: Luke Kelly 1-3, Luke Diamond 1-4 rbi, Derek Battise 1-2, Hunter Klaiber 1-3, Dane Wilson 1-3, Andy Bruce 1-3. Sac-Raceland: Cody Gellitue; Ironton: Tanner Price. LOB-Raceland 10, Ironton 7.