Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

High school baseball games last seven innings, not two, even if it seems the game is pretty much over prematurely.

Ironton pitchers combined to walks nine batters and the Fighting Tigers squandered an early four-run lead as they lost 13-6 to the Portsmouth Trojans on Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“When you get an early lead like that, you have to put the pedal down and put the game away,” said Ironton coach Larry Goodwin.

“We did not do that and had one bad inning that allowed nine runs. After the second inning we just did not play well in any facet of the game.”

Ironton (9-8) went up 1-0 in the first inning when Dane Wilson and Luke Diamond singled, Garrett Carrico was safe on an error to load the bases and Luke Kelley hit into a fielder’s choice as Wilson scored.

Portsmouth rallied to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the second.

Reece Johnson beat out an infield hit, Mikey Potts doubled and Michael Sturgill singled home both runners.

The Fighting Tigers answered with five runs in the bottom of the inning to lead 6-3.

Andy Bruce walked, Tanner Price was hit by a pitch, and Diamond walked to load the bases. Carrico singled to score Bruce and Price came home on an error.

Kelley followed with a two-run double and Hunter Klaiber capped the rally with an RBI double.

Portsmouth got a run back in the third when Mullins walked, stole second and Sky Oliver singled.

The score remained that way until the fifth when the Trojans scored nine runs thanks to five walks, and error and hits by Oliver, Hunter Gibson and Mullins.

Ironton had seven hits with Wilson going 2-for-3 and Kelly 1-3 with a double and three runs batted in. Hunter Klaiber was 1-2 with a double.

Portsmouth had 14 hits with Delotell going 2-3, Oliver, Gibson, Potts and Mullins all 2-4 and Sturgill drove in four runs.

Ironton plays at Ashland, Ky., on Tuesday.

Portsmouth 021 091 0 = 13 14 2

Ironton 150 000 0 = 6 7 2

Zach Delotell and Hunter Gibson. Garrett Carrico, Larry Morris (5), Cody Rawlins (5) and Hunter Weber. W-Delotell (K-3, BB-8, ER-5). L-Carrico (IP-4, K-3, BB-5, H-10, R-9, ER-9). Morris (IP-0.1, K-0, BB-2, R-3, ER-0, H-1). Rawlins (IP-2.2, K-4, BB-2, R-1, ER-0, H-3). Hitting—PHS: Sky Oliver 2-4 rbi, Ryan Williams 1-2, Hunter Gibson 2-4 rbi-2, Zach Delotell 2-3 rbi, Reece Johnson 2-4 rbi, Mikey Potts 2-4 2B, Michael Sturgill 1-4 rbi-4, Austin Mullins 2-4 rbi-2; Ironton: Dane Wilson 2-3, Luke Diamond 1-3, Garrett Carrico 1-4 rbi, Luke Kelley 1-3 2B rbi-3, Hunter Klaiber 1-2 2B, Hunter Weber 1-4.