Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

ASHTABULA — It was quite a run for the Ironton Little League 11-12 girls’ all-star team. It just didn’t run quite long enough.

Ironton went 2-2 at the state tournament and finished as the state runners-up. The two losses were by a combined three runs.

Losing a 1-0 to Canfield on Saturday didn’t set well with the Ironton 11-12 girls.

Ironton took out its frustrations on Sunday with a 16-1 spanking of Conneaut.

Ironton jumped in front 2-0 in the first inning thanks to a line drive double by catcher Demi Sands.

The lead continued to grow in the second inning. Three walks and two errors produce two runs and left the bases loaded.

But not for long.

Taiya Hamlet drilled a grand slam home run over the fence in centerfield and it was 9-0.

Ironton added five more runs in the third and the rout was on.

Sands had three hits and scored three times, Hamlet a pair of hits and six runs batted in while Mary Beth Burton scored three runs.

Kylee Richardson pitched a five-hitter to get the win.

The Ironton All-Stars picked up where they left off later in the evening as they scored four times in the first inning in a rematch with Canfield.

But Canfield rallied to take a 7-6 lead in the fourth inning thanks to a dropped fly ball and a single off the pitcher’s glove.

The lead didn’t last long as Ironton scored four times in the fifth to take the lead for good and added another pair in the sixth to win 12-7.

Kaitlynn Sheridan had a two-run single and Haleigh Rowe shot a rocket over the right-centerfield fence for a home run as Ironton rallied to take the lead in the fifth.

McKenzie McMaster’s double drove in two runs to cap the four-run uprising.

The win gave Ironton the loser’s bracket title, but they lost 3-1 on Monday to Tallmadge who won the winner’s bracket.

Ironton was making its first state tournament appearance after winning the first District 11 championship in league history for the 11-12 age division.