Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

It was almost like a bomb. Ironton’s offense kept ticking until it finally exploded.
Ironton scored some runs early and then got a big seven-run explosion in the fourth inning as the Fighting Tigers beat the Chesapeake Panthers 13-5 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Saturday.
“We hit the ball today,” said Ironton coach Red Burcham. “We had hits all through the lineup. Our pitching was good, we hit the ball and played good defense. It was a good effort all the way around.”
Ironton’s 17-hit attack was led by Dane Wilson who went 4-4 with a run batted in and two stolen bases and Gage Salyers who was 3-5 with five RBI.
Garrett Carrico was 3-3 with two walks and three runs scored, Kyle Kleinman 2-4 with a double and an RBI while Tanner Bowles was 2-4.
Carrico was the winning pitcher as he worked five innings striking out six and walking three.
Austin Browning was 2-3 and Josh Hansen 2-4 for the Panthers.
Chesapeake (3-3, 1-2) got a run in the top of the first when Casey McComas singled, stole second and scored on a hit by Bryce Depriest.
But Ironton (4-1, 2-0) came right back with three runs in the bottom of the inning.
Carrico doubled, Kleinman was hit by a pitch and Wilson and Morris single for a run. Salyers followed with a two-run single.
The Panthers scored a run in the second when Zach Wright singled and scored on Kelton Jones’ ground out.
Ironton answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Carrico singled and Kleinman doubled him home. Morris reached on an error as Kleinman scored.
Chesapeake got within 5-4 in the top of the third.
Josh Hansen singled, Dalton Nida walked, Wes Malavenda and Evan Burcham singled and Austin Browning doubled.
The Panthers tied the game in the top of the fourth when Jones drew a walk, moved up on a ground out and scored on Hansen’s base hit.
But the Fighting Tigers exploded for seven runs in their half of the inning.
Carrico singled, stole second and Wilson singled him home. Wilson stole second and Salyers singled him in. Brycen Thomas walked, Bowles reached on an error and Chandler Dodson, Travis Gayhart and Carrico all walked. Kleinman capped the rally with an RBI single.
Ironton’s final run scored in the fifth when Bowles singled, stole second and Gayhart had an RBI single.
On Monday, Ironton hosts South Point and Chesapeake visits Gallipolis.
Chesapeake    112    100    0    =    5    10    1
Ironton       320    710    x    =    13    17    1
Bryce Depriest, Kelton Jones (3), Bretton Martin (4), Jamey Mills (6) and Austin Browning. Garrett Carrico, Larry Morris (6) and Brycen Thomas. W-Carrico (K-6, BB-3). L-Jones. Hitting-Chesy: Casey McComas 1-3, Josh Hansen 2-4 R, Bryce Depriest 1-1,Wes Malavenda 1-1, Evan Burcham 1-2, Zach Wright 1-3, Austin Browning 2-3 2B, Kelton Jones 1-3; Ironton: Garrett Carrico 3-3 2B 3-R 2-BB, Kyle Kleinman 2-4 RBI 2B, Dane Wilson 4-4 RBI 2-SB, Larry Morris 1-5 RBI, Gage Salyers 3-5 5-RBI, SB, Brycen Thomas 1-3, Tanner Bowels 2-4 2-R, Travis Gayhart 1-1.