Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — The Coal Grove Hornets have their own version of Big Ben.
Ben Compliment got the big clutch hit with a two-run double in the sixth inning that gave the Hornets the lead in an 11-9 Ohio Valley Conference win over the Portsmouth Trojans on Friday.
“Compliment had a big hit. For a freshman to get a key hit like that was big for us. It was nice for the seniors to get a win in their last home game,” said Hornets’ coach Dean Mader.
Coal Grove (10-7, 8-6) fell behind 2-0 and then rallied for three runs in the bottom of the second.
Cory Borders reached on an error, Tait Matney singled, Jordan Case reached on catcher’s interference and Sam Angelo tripled to clear the bases.
Portsmouth took the lead with five runs in the third and added a run in the fifth to make it 8-3.
But Coal Grove came back with four runs in the bottom of the inning to trail 8-7.
Case singled, Angelo was safe on an error and Ben Compliment reached on an error to score a run. Nate Harmon then singled in pinch-runner Evan Holmes.
Evan Gannon was safe on an error for a run and Harmon scored on a passed ball.
In the sixth, Portsmouth got a run to lead 9-7 but Coal Grove took the lead with four runs.
Matney had a double, Case reached on an error and Angelo was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jeb Jones hit a sacrifice fly and Compliment doubled in two runs for the lead.
Harmon singled and Compliment scored on a passed ball.
Jones got the win and the Hornets had nine hits with Case, Angelo and Matney going 2-3 and Harmon 2-4.
Coal Grove travels to Leesburg Fairfield at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the Division IV sectional tournament.
Portsmouth 115 011 0 = 9 8 7
Coal Grove 030 044 x = 11 9 6
William Sturgill, Zach Kinney (6) and Hayden Yerardi. Jeb Jones and Ben Compliment. W-Jones (K-6, BB-4, HBP-5, ER-5). L-Kinney. Hitting-PHS: Bryce Wallace 1-5, Williams Strugill 1-4, Reece Johnson 1-4 rbi, Jack Workman 1-4 2B 3-rbi, Devin Jackson 1-2 2B, Michael Duncan 1-3 rbi, Zach Bayse 2-3 2-rbi; CG: Jordan Case 2-3, Sam Angelo 2-3 3B 3-rbi, Jeb Jones SF rbi, Ben Compliment 1-4 2B 2-rbi, Nate Harmon 2-4, Tait Matney 2-3 2B.