Jimmy Peyton got his first career start, and he celebrated by bringing it to an end.

Saturday, April 29, 2000

Jimmy Peyton got his first career start, and he celebrated by bringing it to an end.

Peyton, a senior righthander, had thrown only one inning this season. But with the Ironton Fighting Tigers playing their fifth game in as many days, Peyton got the call to start Friday morning against the Rock Hill Redmen.

Peyton responded with a four-hitter in a five-inning 13-3 mercy rule win, and it was Peyton’s base hit in the bottom of the fifth that drove in the game-ending run.

"I had a little trouble early. I wasn’t bending my leg and my shoulder was opening up to soon," said Peyton. "But once I got that straightened out I threw a lot better."

With Ironton also playing at Ashland, Ky., later in the day, coach Mark Lewis said Peyton’s effort was a shot in the arm.

"Jimmy threw the ball pretty well. He gave us what we needed. If he didn’t do as well as he did, we would have been in a world of hurt," said Lewis.

Peyton struck out eight and walked four as he got his first career win without a loss.

Ironton (9-6) also collected 10 hits led by Peyton, Chad Parker and Matt White.

Parker was 2-for-2 with a home run and two runs batted in. White also went 2-2 with a home run and three RBI while Peyton was 3-4.

"Rock Hill was in the same situation as us," said Lewis. "They had several games this week and a league game later (Friday afternoon), so they were thin in their pitching.

"We were a little sluggish at first, but that had a little to do with last night (a 17-15 nine inning loss to No. 1-ranked Wheelersburg). I think the home runs kind of recharged us."

Rock Hill scored a run in the top of the first when Josh Harper tripled and Tyler Virgin grounded out.

Ironton came back to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning.

Drew Mains and Jon Sites walked, Parker was hit by a pitch, Josh Harmon walked to force in a run, and Mark Mains hit a sacrifice fly.

Rock Hill regained the lead with two runs in the second.

With one out, Nate Lambert singled, David Martin walked, a ground out moved the runners up, and David Malone blooped a two-run single to right.

The Fighting Tigers tied the game in the bottom of the inning as White walked, Matt Johnson was hit by a pitch, Drew Mains walked, and Sites hit into a fielder’s choice.

Parker hit a towering home run to left leading off the third that put Ironton up for good at 4-3. Peyton had a two-out single and White followed with first career home run.

The lead went to 7-3 in the fourth when Sites singled, stole second, and scored on Parker’s double into the left field corner.

Ironton ended the game with six runs in the fifth.

Peyton started the inning with a single, went to second on a wild pickoff throw, and took third on a wild pitch. White singled to score Peyton and moved up on another bad pickoff attempt.

Johnson singled, Drew Mains walked, and Greg Mountain had a two-run double. Sites hit a sacrifice fly to make it 12-3.

Parker walked and Harmon was safe on an error to put runners at second and third. Mark Mains was walked intentionally to set up the force, but Peyton crossed up the strategy with a long singled to deep center.

Rock Hill 120 00 – 3 4 5

Ironton 213 16 – 13 10 0

Derek Malone, Steve Jenkins (5) and Tanner Heaberlin. Jimmy Peyton and Greg Mountain. W-Peyton 1-0 (8-K, 4-W). WP-Peyton, Malone 2. HBP-by Malone (Chad Parker, Matt Johnson). SB-Rock Hill: Tyler Virgin; Ironton: Jon Sites, Josh Harmon, Matt Johnson. 2B-Rock Hill: ; Ironton: Chad Parker. 3B-Rock Hill: Josh Harper, J. D. Gore. HR-Ironton: Chad Parker, Matt White. SF-Ironton: Mark Mains, Jon Sites. LOB-Rock Hill 6, Ironton 8. Hitting-Rock Hill: Josh Harper 1-3, J. D. Gore 1-3, Nate Lambert 1-1, David Malone 1-2 (2 RBI); Ironton: Greg Mountain 1-4 (2 RBI), Jon Sites 1-2 (RBI), Chad Parker 2-2 (2 RBI), Josh Harmon 2 RBI, Jimmy Peyton 3-4 (RBI), Matt White 2-2 (3 RBI), Matt Johnson 1-2.