By Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CHILLICOTHE — One more big step is ahead for the Coal Grove Lady Hornets.

Coal Grove held on to beat the Adena Lady Warriors 5-4 on Tuesday in the Division 3 district semifinals to put the Lady Hornets within one step of the program’s first-ever regional berth.

Coal Grove (16-7) plays Wellston at 6 p.m. on Thursday at Unioto High School in the district championship game.

Coal Grove jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Abbie Deeds singled and went to second on an error, took third on a passed ball and scored on a one-out double by Izzy Kitts.

Mia Haynes got a 2-out single to score Kitts.

The Lady Hornets made it 4-0 in the top of the fourth.

Rylee Black got a leadoff double, Haynes was hit by a pitch and Kasey Vanderhoof sacrificed the runners up a base. Braelie Hitchcock then delivered a clutch 2-run single.

Adena (14-7) got a run in the bottom of the inning.

Mady Holcomb got a one-out singled, went to third on a pair of passed balls and scored on a squeeze bunt by Carolina Corcoran.

Coal Grove got the run back in the top of the fifth and it proved to be the deciding run.

Deeds walked and Shay Collins singled to start the inning. An out later, Black was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Vanrrhoof drew a 2-out walk to force home Deeds.

Adena scored twice in the bottom of the fifth to get within 5-3.

Hailey Howard and Adelynn Nelson both walked to start the inning and both moved up on an error.

A passed ball scored Howard and Emma Garrison put down a squeeze bunt to scored Nelson.

The Lady Warriors mounted a rally with 2 outs in the seventh only to fall a run short as Garrison and Williams hit back-to-back doubles. Williams stole third but the next batter grounded out to first base to end the game.

Deeds got the win with a complete game 4-hitter. She struck out 7, walked 4 and all 4 runs were earned.

Hitchcock was 1-3 with 2 RBI, Deeds and Black each 1-3, Kitts 1-4 with a double and an RBI, and Collins was 1-4 as the Lady Hornets had 6 hits.

Hailey Howard took the loss as she struck out 3, walked 2 and all 5 runs were earned.

Coal Grove 200 210 0 = 5 6 3

Adena      000 120 1 = 4 4 1

Abbie Deeds and Rylee Black. Hailey Howard and Sophie Cheesebrew. W-Deeds (IP-7.0, H-4, R-4, ER-4, K-7, BB-5, WP-1). L-Howard (IP-7.0, H-4, R-5, ER-5, K-3, BB-2, HBP-2). Hitting-Coal Grove: Abbie Deeds 1-3, Shay Collins 1-4, Izzy Kitts 1-4 2B RBI, Rylee Black 1-3, Kasey Vanderhoof RBI, Braelie Hitchcock 1-3 2-RBI; Adena: Emma Garrison 1-3 2B RBI, Kiera Williams 1-3 2B RBI, Mady Halcomb 1-4, Caroline Corcoran RBI, Adriana Guarnieri 1-3.