Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — It was a memorable finish for the Coal Grove Hornets. It was even more memorable one for Blair Demetroulos.
The first memory was created when Malachi Wheeler came off the bench to get a pinch-hit double to drive in the winning run as the Hornets beat the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans 8-7 on Saturday.
The second memory went to Demetroulos who picked up his first career coaching win in his debut.
“We got down early and fought back. We showed our stripes and walked away with a W,” said Demetroulos. “(Notre Dame was) a competitive team and well-coached. It was a fun game to be a part of.”
In the Hornets’ seventh, Colton Sparks walked and Evan Gannon singled with no outs. Wheeler hit a 1-2 pitch into the left field alley to score pinch-runner Jacob Napier.
Notre Dame led 3-0 after the first inning. The Hornets then got a run in the second when Nate Harmon scored on an error.
The Titans got the run back in the top of the third only to have Coal Grove get two runs in the bottom of the inning when Tait Matney tripled, Brady Doyle had an RBI single, Ben Compliment and Sparks walked and Gannon got an RBI single.
The Hornets took a 6-4 lead in the fourth.
Matney and Doyle walked and Compliment hit a two-run triple. Harmon reached on an error to score the third run.
Notre Dame was up 8-6 heading to the bottom of the sixth when Kyle Sites got a bunt single, moved up on a sacrifice and scored on Doyle’s base hit.
Doyle was 2-3 and Gannon 2-4 to lead the Hornets.
Matney pitched the seventh for the win in relief of Harmon who allowed the only two Titans’ hits.
Notre Dame 301 011 1 = 7 2 3
Coal Grove 012 301 1 = 8 9 2
Joe McGuire, Caleb Nichols (4) and Ethan Kammer. Nate Harmon, Tait Matney (7) and Colton Sparks. W-Matney (IP-1.0, H-0, BB-2). Harmon (IP-6.0, K-5, BB-6, H-2). Hitting-PND: Ethan Kammer 1-1, Jake Cole 1-3; CG: Tait Matney 1-3 3B, Brady Doyle 2-3, Ben Compliment 1-2 3B, Nate Harmon 1-4, Evan Gannon 2-4, Kyle Sites 1-3, Malachi Wheeler 1-1 2B.