Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CHESAPEAKE — Gage Salyers missed the past few games with an injury. When he came back on Wednesday, he hurt the Chesapeake pitching.
Salyers went 3-5 with three doubles and four runs batted in as the Ironton Fighting Tigers rolled to a 17-2 Ohio Valley Conference win over the Panthers.
Salyers wasn’t the only Ironton batter doing damage. Kyle Howell continued his hot-hitter by going 4-5 with two doubles and four RBI. Ethan Duncan and Gunner Crawford each went 2-4 with a double and an RBI. Collin Freeman was 2-2 with two RBI and Ryan Ashley went 2-5.
“Howell, Salyers and Duncan all hit the ball hard,” said Ironton coach Travis Wylie.
“Ashley settled down, got in a grove and pitched well.”
Ashley went the first 4.1 innings for the win. He gave up four hits, struck out six and walked two. Brothers Ethan and Ashton Duncan finished up and struck out four of the five batters they faced.
Ironton (4-3, 1-1) got a run in the top of the first when Cameron Deere was hit by a pitch,
Brycen Thomas reached on an error, Ethan Duncan walked and Salyers hit into a force out as the run scored.
The Panthers (0-7, 0-2) took the lead with their two runs in the bottom of the inning.
Trent Dearth walked, Thomas Sentz singled and Austin Browning walked to load the bases. Travis Grimm singled for a run and A.J. Litteral hit into a force out for an RBI.
Ironton then took the lead for good with four runs in the third.
Duncan and Salyers doubled to tie the game. Ashley and Crawford singled for another run, a run scored on a passed ball and then Freeman hit a sacrifice fly.
The Fighting Tigers blew the game open with six runs in the fourth to lead 11-2.
Thomas singled but Duncan hit into a force out. Duncan stole second, went to third on an error and scored on Salyers’ second double. Ashley then singled home Salyers.
Crawford doubled, Nolan Schreck walked and Freeman got his second RBI with a base hit.
Howell singled for two runs and Howell came around to score on two throwing errors after he stole second base.
Ironton created the run-rule with six more runs in the sixth.
With one out, Jacob Sloan walked, Freeman singled and Howell had an RBI double. Richard Thompson was hit by a pitch, Thomas walked and Duncan singled in a run.
Salyers then smacked hit third double of the game as two runs scored. Ashley grounded out to scored Duncan to complete the scoring.
Ironton 104 606 = 17 17 0
Chesapeake 200 000 = 2 4 4
Ryan Ashley, Ethan Duncan (5), Ashton Duncan (6) and Brycen Thomas. Thomas Sentz, John Marshall (5), Hayden Blankenship (6) and Jonah Ridenour. W-Ashley (IP-4.1, H-4, R-2, ER-2, K-6, BB-2). E. Duncan (IP-0.2, K-1). A. Duncan (IP-1.0, K-3). L-Sentz (IP-4.0, H-13, R-11, ER-9, K-1, BB-4). Marshall (IP-1.1, R-1, ER-1, BB-1). H. Blankenship (IP-0.2, H-4, R-5, ER-5, BB-1). Hitting-Ironton: Kyle Howell 4-5 2-2B, 4-rbi, Cameron Deere 1-3, Brycen Thomas 1-3 rbi, Ethan Duncan 2-4 2B rbi, Gage Salyers 3-5, 3-2B 4-rbi, Ryan Ashley 2-5 2-rbi, Gunner Crawford 2-4 2B rbi, Collin Freeman 2-2 2-rbi; Chesy: Trent Dearth 1-2, Thomas Sentz 1-3, Travis Grimm 1-3 rbi, A.J. Litteral rbi, Jonah Ridenour 1-2.