Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

Ethan Duncan took matters into his own hands.
Duncan pitched four strong innings and had a two-run single as the Ironton Fighting Tigers beat the Chesapeake Panthers 11-1 in five innings to give Travis Wylie his first career coaching victory.
Duncan struck out eight, walked three, gave up two hits and allowed one earned run. Gage Salyers pitched a scoreless fifth inning.
Joel Blankenship went 3-for-3 with two runs batted in, Garrett Carrico went 2-3 with two RBI and Cameron Deere went 2-3 to pace a 12-hit Ironton attack.
Josh Hansen was 2-3 for the Panthers who had just three hits.
Chesapeake its run in the top of the first inning when Trent Dearth walked, stole second and scored on a hit by Hansen.
But Ironton came back and erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the inning.
With one out, Tanner Bowles and Garrett Carrico and then Brady Rowe, Ethan Duncan, Brycen Thomas and Ayden Barnes all walked, and then Joel Blankenship, Cameron Deere, Gage Salyers and Carrico all singled.
The Fighting Tigers added a run in the second when Duncan reached on an error and Blankenship and Deere singled.
The lead went to 10-1 in the fourth when Duncan single, Barnes put down a sacrifice and Blankenship singled.
Ironton ended the game in the fifth when James Carter and Carrico walked and Collin Freeman and Brycen Thomas singled.
Ironton is now 1-2 on and 1-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference. Chesapeake is 1-2 and 0-1.
Ironton visits Coal Grove and Chesapeake hosts Portsmouth on Monday.
Chesapeake    100    00    =    1    3    1
Ironton       810    11    =    11    12    0
Bryce Depriest, Trent Dearth (1) and Kelton Jones. Ethan Duncan, Gage Salyers (5) and Brycen Thomas. W-Duncan (IP-4.0, H-2, R-1, ER-1, K-8, BB-3). Salyers (IP-1.0, H-1, K-1, BB-2). L-Depriest (IP-1.0, H-6, R-8, ER-8, K-2, BB-4). Dearth (IP-3.2, H-6, R-3, ER-2, K-1, BB-2). Hitting-CHS: Josh Hansen 2-3 rbi, Henson 1-2; Ironton: Joel Blankenship 3-3 rbi-2, Tanner Bowles 1-3, Garrett Carrico 2-3 rbi-2, Cameron Deere 2-3 rbi-2, Ethan Duncan 1-3 rbi-2, Gage Salyers 1-4 rbi, Brycen Thomas 1-3 rbi, Collin Freeman 1-1.