Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — May the force be with you.

Aley Carmon did her best Star Wars impression as she helped lead the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers to a 10-7 Ohio Valley Conference win over the Coal Grove Lady Hornets on Wednesday.

“Carmon continues to be a force in our offense. Her swing is so smooth,” said Ironton coach Missy Fields.

“And I’m proud of Haylee Stevens for hanging in there tonight. She hit the ball right at the Coal Grove players until her last at-bat when she belted it over the left field fence.”

Ironton had 12 hits, Kenzie Cremeens was 2-4 with a double and RBI while Katie Burcham was 2-4 with an RBI.

“Katie Burcham has really been working hard to improve at the plate and it is paying off,” said Fields.

“Kenzi Cremeens is doing well at the plate, too. She is a versatile player. She has had to switch positions for a few games, but she is most comfortable behind the plate.”

Ironton went up 1-0 in the first when Stevens reached on an error, Zjaytayia Mize sacrifice and Cremeens’ double.

Coal Grove took the lead in the bottom of the inning on a two-run homer by Kasey Murphy.

“Coal Grove has a good team. Murphy threw the ball real well tonight,” Fields said.

Ironton scored a run in the second on Burcham’s base hit, Kylie Barcus’ sacrifice and then Haleigh Rowe reached on an error.

The Lady Hornets also got two runs in the third on a single by Gracie Riley, McKenzie Moore’s double and an error to lead 4-2.

Ironton then scored five times in the fourth to take the lead for good.

Brooke Elswick and Mize reached on errors, Cremeens single, Carmon doubled and Ruthie Paholsky and Burcham followed with base hits.

Coal Grove got a run back in the bottom of the fourth on two errors and a ground out.

Stevens hit a solo home run in the fifth and Carmon belted one of her own in the sixth. Barcus and Elswick singled in the seventh and Stevens grounded out to drive in Ironton’s final run.

Lauren Crum hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning to cap Coal Grove’s scoring.

Ironton hosts Chesapeake on Friday and Coal Grove visits Gallipolis at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Ironton 110 511 1 = 10 12 7

Coal Grove 202 100 2 = 7 6 9

Aley Carmon and Kenzie Cremeens. Kasey Murphy and Lauren Crum. W-Carmon (K-6, BB-1, ER-4). L-Murphy (K-6, BB-0, ER-3). Hitting-Ironton: Haylee Stevens 1-5 HR rbi, Kenzie Cremeens 2-4 2B rbi, Aley Carmon 4-4 2B HR rbi-3, Ruthie Paholsky 1-3 rbi, Katie Burcham 2-4 rbi, Kylie Barcus 1-3, Brooke Elswick 1-4; CG: Lauren Meyer 1-4 2B, Gracie Riley 2-4, Kasey Murphy 1-4 HR rbi-2, Lauren Crum 1-4 HR rbi-2, McKenzie Moore 1-3 2B rbi.