Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

Attitude and effort can take you part of the way. Good pitching really helps to get things moving.
The Ironton Fighting Tigers got excellent pitching as they split their season opening games on Saturday, beating the Lucasville Valley Indians 7-3 before losing 2-1 to the Huntington Highlanders.
Larry Morris went five strong innings against Valley before Garrett Carrico finished up and got the win. Dane Wilson pitched a complete game as he took the tough loss in the second game.
Morris struck out eight while Carrico fanned four of the six batters he faced. Wilson struck out six as he pitched a four-hitter.
“Morris pitch well and Carrico threw extremely well. They did a great job,” said Ironton coach Red Burcham who notched his first career victory as he made his debut in the opener.
“We had our chances (against Huntington) but it was a great defensive game by both teams and both pitchers threw well. Dane pitched a heck of a game. I’m proud of our effort and attitude.”
The game was tied 3-3 after five innings. Ironton then broke the game open with four runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Ironton had 10 hits with Wilson going 2-3 with two runs batted in, Kyle Kleinman 2-4 and an RBI, Morris 1-3 with two RBI, Tanner Bowles 2-2 and two RBI, Carrico 1-2, Gage Salyers 1-3 and Travis Gayhart had two sacrifices.
“We hit the ball pretty good. We played hard and we played well,” said Burcham. “The attitude is there. We’ve had a great attitude. We just have to keep working and getting better.”
Huntington got a run in the first and Ironton tied the game in the fourth when Wilson walked and scored on a hit by Gage Salyers.
The Highlanders scored in the sixth to lead 2-1 and survived an Ironton threat in the seventh.
With two outs, Bowles got a pinch-hit single to center. Carrico walked but Kleinman’s line shot to left field was caught to end the game.
Carrico, Wilson, Salyers, Bowles and Tyler Malone all had hits for the Fighting Tigers.
Ironton plays at Russell, Ky., at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
First Game
Lucasville    100    020    0    =    3    7    1
Ironton     100    024    x    =    7    10    0
Jones, Morrow (6) and Bowling. Larry Morris, Garrett Carrico (6) and Brycen Thomas. W-Carrico. L-Morrow. Hitting-LV: Jones 3-4, Morrow 2-4 RBI, Bowling 1-3, Bloomfield 1-3; Ironton: Garrett Carrico 1-2, Kyle Kleinman 2-4 rbi, Dane Wilson 2-3 2-RBI, Larry Morris 1-3 2-RBI, Tanner Bowles 2-2 2-RBI, Travis Gayhart 2 sacrifices, Gage Salyers 1-3.
Second Game
Huntington    100    001    0    =    2    4    0
Ironton     000    100    0    =    1    5    0
Dunfee and Haibal. Dane Wilson and Brycen Thomas. W-Dunfee. L-Wilson (K-6, BB-0). Hitting-HH: Aulick 2-3 RBI; Ironton: Garrett Carrico 1-3, Dane Wilson 1-1 2-BB, Gage Galyers 1-3, Tyler Malone 1-3, Tanner Bowles 1-1.