Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — Coach Dean Mader didn’t give his team any style points, but all he was really concerned with was getting enough runs to win.
The Coal Grove Hornets were guilty of five errors but still managed to get a 7-4 win over the St. Joseph Flyers on Wednesday.
“It wasn’t pretty, but it was a win and that’s about all you can say,” said Mader. “We really need to play some games and get in some kind of rhythm. Our pitching wasn’t bad but we walked too many.”
The Hornets jumped in front 3-0 in the first inning.
Jacob Clark walked and scored on Daniel Rutherford’s triple. Jeb Jones singled for a run. Dillon Malone singled, Jordan Case was safe on a fielder’s choice and a passed ball scored Jones.
The lead went to 4-0 in the second when Brady Doyle reached on an error, stole second and scored when Chase McKnight singled to right.
The Flyers cut the deficit in half with two runs in the top of the fifth.
Clay Wills walked, stole second and went to third on a passed ball. Gage Butler then walked and stole second. With two outs, Chase Walters reached on an error as the runners scored.
But the Hornets answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning.
Clark was safe on an error and went to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch.
Rutherford walked, reached third on a passed ball and scored on a throwing error.
Jones then walked, moved up on Malone’s ground out, took third on a wild pitch and scored on Case’s ground out.
The Flyers refused to quit as they scored twice in the seventh.
Chase Wilds was safe on an error, went to third when Isaac Whaley doubled and scored on a wild pitch. Andrew Lawson was reached on an error as Whaley went to third where he scored on a wild pitch.
McKnight went 4.2 innings for the win as he struck out nine, walked seven, did not give up a hit and both runs he allowed were unearned.
Malone finished for the save as he struck out two, walked two and gave up three hits. Malone also went 2-3 at the plate.
Peyton Adkins  went 5.2 innings in taking the loss. He fanned two, walked five and only three of the runs he allowed were earned.
Coal Grove plays at Rock Hill on Friday. St. Joseph plays at Raceland, Ky., on Thursday at 5:30.
St. Joseph    000    020    2    =    4    3    4
Coal Grove    310    030    x    =    7    5    5
Peyton Adkins, Isaac Whaley (6) and Zack McGraw. Chase McKnight, Dillon Malone (4) and Jeb Jones. W-McKnight (IP-4.2, K-9, BB-7, H-0, R-2, ER-0). Save-Malone (IP-2.1, K-2, BB-2, H-3, R-2, ER-0). L-Adkins (IP-5.2, H-5, R-7, ER-3, K-2, BB-5). Whaley (IP-0.1). Hitting-SJ: Peyton Adkins 1-3, Isaac Whaley 1-3, Clay Willis 1-3; CG: Chase McKnight 1-3 RBI, Daniel Rutherford 1-2 RBI 3B, Jeb Jones 1-2 RBI, Dillon Malone 2-3.