Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — Daniel Rutherford may want to change his name to Ruthlessford.
Rutherford was ruthless on the mound as he pitched a three-hitter to help the Coal Grove Hornets blank the Portsmouth Trojans 3-0 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Monday.
Rutherford struck out 14 and walked five in going the distance.
“Rudy threw about as well as I’ve seen him,” said Hornets’ coach Dean Mader.
“He had a little trouble with his breaking ball early, but he started to get in over for strikes as the game went on. His fastball was probably in the upper 80s to 90 miles an hour. He was one.”
Ryan Williams threw well in defeat for the Trojans. He gave up just two hits, struck out 11 and walked three.
The Hornets got all the runs they needed by taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
Jacob Clark reached on a dropped third strike, took second on a wild pitch, Rutherford walked and Jeb Jones singled in a run. Jones stole second and Dylan Malone grounded out as Rutherford scored.
Coal Grove added an insurance run in the second.
Chase McKnight led off with a walk, stole second, went to third on a ground out by Nate Harmon and came home when Brady Doyle hit into a fielder’s choice.
Rutherford also had a triple as he went 1-1 with two walks.
Coal Grove visits Ironton on Wednesday.
Coal Grove    210    000    0    =    3    2    0
Portsmouth    000    000    0    =    0    3    1
Daniel Rutherford and Jeb Jones. Ryan Williams and Mikey Potts. W-Rutherford (K-14, BB-5). L-Williams (K-11. BB-3). Hitting-CG: Daniel Rutherford 1-1 3B 2-BB, Jeb Jones 1-3 RBI, Dylan Malone RBI, Brady Doyle RBI; PHS: Ty Oliver 1-1 2-BB, Vincent Schwanberger 1-3, Zach Bayse 1-3.