Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

Mary Beth Burton was hitting her spots. So was the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers’ offense.
Burton pitched a three-hitter and Ironton had 16 hits in a 17-1 five-inning win over the Fairland Lady Dragons Tuesday in the Division III sectional tournament.
Burton struck out nine and did not allow a walk or earned run. She also went 2-3 with two doubles at the plate.
“Burton pitched a great game tonight. She hit her spots well earning her nine strikeouts,” said Ironton coach Missy Fields.
“The girls really hit well tonight with two-thirds of the starting lineup getting multiple hits.”
Peighton Rowe had a big game going 3-3 with two doubles and two RBI. Taiya Hamlet was 2-2 with a double and two RBI, Demi Sands was 2-2, Haylee Stevens 3-4 and two RBI, and Riley Schreck 2-3 with a double.
Ironton (23-1) will now host Coal Grove at 5 p.m. on Friday in the sectional finals.
Fairland got its run in the first as Adrianna Hoffman and Emily Bowen singled and Libby Judge reached on an error.
Ironton came right back with six runs in the bottom of the inning.
Burton doubled and Rowe had an RBI single to start the inning. Rowe stole second and scored on Hamlet’s base hit.
Sands walked, Hamlet moved up on a wild pitch and Sands stole second. Keegan Moore then grounded out as a run scored.
Stevens singled in a run, Schreck and Kylee Richendollar reached on errors for a run. Kiandra Martin hit into a force play as Schreck scored.
The Lady Tigers put the game away with 10 runs in the second.
Rowe doubled, Hamlet walked and Sands had a two-run single. Sands moved up on a ground out and scored on Scheck’s base hit.
Richendollar singled for a run and Martin doubled home another run. Burton, Rowe and Hamlet all doubled, Sands singled for a run and Schreck hit a sacrifice fly.
The final Ironton run scored in the fourth when Holly Dutey walked, moved up on a ground out and scored on Steven’s base hit.
Fairland 100 00 = 1 3 2
Ironton 6(10)0 1x = 17 16 1
Emily Bowen, Adrianna Hoffman (3) and Holli Lester. Mary Beth Burton and Demi Sands. W-Burton (K-9, BB-0, ER-0). L-Bowen (IP-2.0, H-6, R-6, ER-5, K-2, BB-3). Hoffman (IP-2.0, H-10, R-10, BB-2). Hitting-FHS: Adrianna Hoffman 1-3, Emily Bowen 2-2; Ironton: Mary Beth Burton 2-3 2-2B rbi, Peighton Rowe 3-3 2-2B 2-rbi, Taiya Hamlet 2-2 2B 2-rbi, Demi Sands 2-2, Haylee Stevens 3-4 2-rbi, Riley Schreck 2-3 2B rbi, Kylee Richendollar 1-4 rbi, Kiandra Martin 1-2 2B rbi.