Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

The Ironton Fighting Tigers might be looking at batting differently, but they’re still getting good results.

Ironton took a better approach to hitting on Monday and came away with an 8-4 Ohio Valley Conference win over the Fairland Dragons.

“Our hitting approach at the plate is improving by the game. We had a great percentage of quality at-bats,” said Ironton coach Larry Goodwin.

Dane Wilson got the win as he struck out seven and walked four in going the distance.

“Dane Wilson pitched well. Our pitchers need to improve on getting the first batter of every inning out. We are just not doing that as well as I would like. Overall, it was a good team win.”

Garrett Carrico was 2-for-4 with three runs batted in to lead the Ironton offense.

Collin Damron was 2-4 and Hayden James 2-3 for Fairland.

Ironton (5-0, 1-0) snapped a scoreless tie with a run in the third inning. Kyle Kleinman doubled, went to third on Cody Rawlins’ sacrifice and scored on the throw to first base.

The lead went to 3-0 in the fourth.

Jake Isaac walked and scored on a hit by Carrico. Larry Morris walked, Carrico went to third on a wild pitch and then scored on a double steal.

Fairland (0-3, 0-1) scored three runs in the top of the fifth on a walked to Evan Burcham and singles by Adams, Hayden James, Tyler George and Collin Damron.

But Ironton got the three runs back in the bottom of the inning.

Rawlins walked, Thomas put down a sacrifice, Wilson walked, and Carrico and Hunter Klaiber singled.

The Dragons scored a run in the sixth on a walk to Burcham and singles by Adams and James.

Ironton came right back with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Ethan Duncan, Kleinman and Rawlins all walked, Thomas single for a run, Wilson walked and a passed ball scored Rawlins.

Fairland is at Symmes Valley on Tuesday. In league games on Wednesday, Ironton visits Coal Grove and Fairland hosts Gallipolis.

Fairland 000 031 0 = 4 7 0

Ironton 001 232 x = 8 5 1

Collin Damron, Seth Clay (6) and Eli Bowen. Dane Wilson and Bryce Thomas. W-Wilson (K-7, BB-4, ER-4). L-Damron (IP-5.1, K-2, BB-10, H-5, R-8, ER-7). Clay (IP-0.2, K-1, BB-0). Hitting-Fairland: Tyler George 1-4 rbi, Collin Damron 2-4, C. Adams 2-3, Hayden James 2-3 rbi-1; Ironton: Garrett Carrico 2-4 rbi-3, Hunter Klaiber 1-3 rbi, Kyle Kleinman 1-2 2B, Bryce Thomas 1-1. LOB-Fairland 6, Ironton 6.