RACELAND, Ky.

Sunday, April 16, 2000

RACELAND, Ky. – The Ironton Fighting Tigers must have felt like they were playing the lottery Friday. They had plenty of chances but never cashed in.

Ironton left eight runners stranded in a 4-2 loss to the Raceland Rams.

"We had our chances, and we hit the ball, but it was always right at someone," Ironton coach Mark Lewis said. "They have a nice team. They executed well and cashed in on their chances and we didn’t. It’s that simple."

James Marushi got the win with relief help from B. J. Byrd. Ironton’s Chad Parker pitched well in defeat, allowing only five hits, striking out two and walking three.

"Chad struggled the first inning, but he’s been off since Monday so that’s understandable. Now after the first inning, he settled down and pitched a heck of a ball game," said Lewis.

Ironton (5-3) jumped in front 1-0 in the top of the first inning.

Drew Mains walked, went to third on a hit by Parker, and came home when Jimmy Peyton grounded out.

But Raceland (10-4) came right back to score three in the top of the first.

Jason Miller walked and ran all the way home on a double by Byrd.

Jared Tolliver walked, the pair pulled off a double steal, and a run scored when Seth Pack grounded out. Derek Woods walked with two outs and the stop-steal produced the final run.

The Rams scored in the third when Byrd singled, went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jared Tolliver, and scored on Scott Lynd’s double.

The Fighting Tigers got a run in the fifth when Mains singled, went to second on a balk, moved to third on a line single by Parker, and scored on Peyton’s sacrifice fly.

Ironton got two runners on in the sixth when Matt White doubled and Matt Johnson walked, but they were left stranded.

Byrd walked a batter in the seventh but Ironton was unable to capitalize.

The Fighting Tigers play at Coal Grove Monday.

Ironton 100 010 0 – 2 7 1

Raceland 301 000 x – 4 5 1

Chad Parker and Jon Sites. James Marushi, B. J. Byrd (6) and Seth Pack. W-Marushi (2-K, 3-W, 7-H). L-Parker (2-K, 3-W, 2-HBP). Save-Byrd (0-K, 1-W). 2B-Ironton: Matt Johnson, Jason Harmon, Matt White; Raceland: Scott Lynd, B. J. Byrd. SB-Ironton: Tim McKnight; Raceland: B. J. Byrd 2, Jared Tolliver. SF-Ironton: Jimmy Peyton. Sac-Raceland: Jared Tolliver. LOB-Ironton 8, Raceland 4. Balk-Marushi. HBP-by Parker (Jared Tolliver, B. J. Byrd). Hitting-Ironton: Drew Mains 1-3, Chad Parker 2-3, Jimmy Peyton 2 RBI, Mark Mains 1-3, Josh Harmon 1-3, Matt White 1-3, Matt Johnson 1-2; Raceland: B. J. Byrd 2-2 (RBI), James Marushi 2-3, Scott Lynd 1-3.