Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PEDRO — The Rock Hill Redmen made it a group effort.
The Redmen got good defense, good hitting and good pitching in a 9-2 Ohio Valley Conference win over the Ironton Fighting Tigers on Wednesday.
Landon Smith got the win as he scattered nine hits, struck out two and walked two and the Redmen defense did not make an error.
“We played hard and played good defense. They had the bases loaded in the first and second innings but Smith made good pitches when he had to,” said Rock Hill coach Barry Litteral.
“We put two good innings together. We had three bunts that we executed well for hits and that got us going. It was just a good team effort. Our kids are coming through right now.”
The Redmen (5-1, 3-1) broke the scoreless tie with three runs in the third.
Jake Blagg walked, stole second and scored on a hit by Cody Lewis. Logan Hankins and Kaleb Kidd singled to load the bases and Smith hit a sacrifice fly.
Kyle Stanfield walked and an error allowed a run to score.
Mason Darby singled, Blagg and Lewis bunted for hits and Hankins had a two-run double. Kidd singled to load the bases and Smith squeezed home a run.
Ironton got a run in the fifth when Dane Wilson singled, stole second and scored on Kyle Kleinman’s base hit.
A run scored in the sixth when Kidd singled, Smith hit into a fielder’s choice, Stanfield singled and Nichols and Darby walked to forced in a run.
Ironton (4-2, 2-1) got its second run in the seventh.
Salyers singled, Wilson was hit by a pitch, the runners moved up on a ground out and Kleinman hit sacrifice fly.
Kidd was 3-3 and Lewis 3-4 to pace the Rock Hill offense. Hankins was 2-4 and Stanfield 2-2.
Wilson and Kleinman each went 2-3, Tyler Malone 2-2 and Salyers 2-4.
Rock Hill hosts Gallipolis on Thursday and Coal Grove on Saturday. Ironton entertains Portsmouth on Friday.
Ironton       000    010    1    =    2    9    1
Rock Hill    003    501    x    =    9    14    0
Tyler Malone, Joel Blankenship (5) and Brycen Thomas. Landon Smith and Kaleb Kidd. W-Smith (K-2, BB-2, HBP-1). L-Malone. Hitting-Ironton: Garrett Carrico 1-3, Gage Salyers 2-4, Dane Wilson 2-3, Kyle Kleinman 2-3, Tyler Malone 2-2; RH: Jake Blagg 1-4, Cody Lewis 3-4, Logan Hankins 2-4 2B, Kaleb Kidd 3-3, Landon Smith 2-RBI sac SF, Kyle Stanfield 2-3, Jaret Bacorn 1-3, Seth Nichols 1-3, Mason Darby 1-3.