Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — Evidently the Coal Grove Hornets like winning.

Coal Grove won its eighth straight and ninth in the last 10 games by beating the Chesapeake Panthers 5-4 in six innings on Thursday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“We played pretty well. We played real well defensively,” said Hornets’ coach Dean Mader.

“It was Senior Night and we were able to play 14 players and they all contributed in some way.”

Coal Grove ( 12-9) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Jacob Clark singled, went to third on an error and scored when Daniel Rutherford hit a sacrifice fly.

Chesapeake came right back to tie the game in the second inning when Jamey Mills was hit by a pitch, went to third on Dalton Nida’s base hit and scored when Blake Ashworth grounded out.

But the Hornets regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Dylan Malone and Isaac Howard walked, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on Darin Bloomfield’s base hit.

Coal Grove added a run in the fourth to lead 4-1 on a wild pitch after Howard singled, Bloomfield walked, Cole Gannon singled.

The Panthers tied the game in the top of the fifth.

With two outs, Kolton Webb singled, Blankenship was hit by a pitch and Kobe McWhorter walked to load the bases.

Webb scored on a passed ball and then Mills and Nida singled in runs.

Coal Grove came right back in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good.

Rutherford walked and Jeb Jones singled. Rutherford stole third and pinch-runner Tristan Hankins went to second. Rutherford then scored on a wild pitch.

Malone went five innings to get the win while Nate Harmon notched the save.

The game was called in the top of the seventh due to lightning.

Clark was 2-3 as Coal Grove got six hits.

Webb and Nida were 2-3 for the Panthers who had eight hits.

Coal Grove plays at Nelsonville-York at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the Division III sectional finals.

Chesapeake 010 030 = 4 8 1

Coal Grove 120 110 = 5 6 0

Jamey Mills, Dalton Nida (5), Austin Browning (5) and Blake Ashworth. Dylan Malone, Nate Harmon (6) and Jeb Jones. W-Malone (IP-5, K-2, BB-3, HBP-3, R-4, H-6). Save-Harmon (IP-1, H-2). L-Nida (IP-0.1, R-1, H-1, BB-3). Mills (IP-4, R-4, H-2, K-1, BB-2, HBP-2). Browning (IP-1.2, BB-2). Hitting-CHS: Kolton Webb 2-3, Dakota Blankenship 1-2, Jamey Mills 2-2, Dalton Nida 2-3, Austin Browning 1-3; CG: Jacob Clark 2-3, Jeb Jones 1-4, Isaac Howard 1-2, Darin Bloomfield 1-2, Cole Gannon 1-3.