Chad Parker’s Rice Crispies cereal has the snap and crackle.

Tuesday, April 24, 2001

Chad Parker’s Rice Crispies cereal has the snap and crackle. He had to supply the pop.

And that’s just what he did Monday as he launched a pair of home runs, drove in five runs, and scored four times to lead the Ironton Fighting Tigers to a 10-9 win over the Greenup County Musketeers.

"The ball was carrying today. I’ve hit a few balls this year even better than (the first home run) and the ball didn’t go out because the air was heavy," Parker said.

Ironton coach Mark Lewis was not surprised by Parker’s power production.

"Chad’s been hitting the ball better lately. The first home run he hit was a curveball and there was no doubt about that one," said Lewis.

Greenup scored first when Danny Dillow walked, stole second, went to third on a ground out, and came home when Nate Hall doubled just inside the right field foul line.

Ironton (8-8) took the lead when Parker clubbed the first of hi two home runs following singles by Drew Mains and Josh Harnon.

The Musketeers came back to go ahead with four runs in the second.

Aaron Roe singled, J. D. Shaw walked, Dillow singled for a run, Ryan Wells a bases loaded walk, and Dillow came home on a wild pitch.

Nick Collins walked to start the bottom of the inning, Mains singled, and Harmon reached on a fielder’s choice with Collins scoring on a throwing error.

Parker unloaded his second home run, a high, lofty drive to left, that put Ironton ahead 6-5.

Greenup tied the game in the third when Allen Roe singled, moved up on a ground out, and scored on a double by Aaron Roe.

The Fighting Tigers stretch their lead to 7-6 in the fourth when Parker and Mountain walked and Murnahan blooped an RBI single to center.

But Greenup knotted the score at 7-7 in the fifth when Allen Roe tripled to start the inning and scored on a wild pitch.

The Fighting Tigers took a 10-7 lead in the sixth.

With one out, Harmon, Parker, and Matt White walked to load the bases, and then Mountain laid down a perfect squeeze bunt. Murnahan hit a sacrifice fly and Josh Sands had a run-scoring single to make it 10-7.

The Musketeers attempted to rally in the seventh, but Ironton was able to shut off the uprising.

Vansickle doubled, went to third on Hieneman’s base hit, Shaw walked, and Dillow had a slow roller for a base hit to make it a one-run game. Wells walked to force in a run and make it 14-13, but Sands came on to get the final out and record his third save.

Parker finished 2-for-2 and Mains 2-for-4. Dillow was 3-for-3, and Allen and Aaron Roe each went 2-for-4 for the Musketeers.

Parker got the win in relief.

Ironton played host to Rock Hill Tuesday

Greenup 141 010 2 – 9 12 2

Ironton 330 103 x – 10 7 0

Brandon Vansickle, Ryan Wells (2), Darren Hayden (5) and Joe Kendall. Nick Collins, Chad Parker (3), Josh Sands (7) and Matt White. W-Parker (4-K, 4-W, 5-H, 3-ER). L-Wells. Save-Sands 3. WP-Collins, Parker, Wells. Sac-Ironton: Greg Mountain. SF-Ironton: Chuck Murnahan. 2B-Greenup: Aaron Roe, Joe Kendall, Brandon Vansickle, Nate Hall. 3B-Greenup: Allen Roe, Joe Kendall. HR-Ironton: Chad Parker 2. Hitting-Greenup: Danny Dillow 3-3, Ryan Wells 1-4, Joe Kendall 1-3, Nate Hall 1-3, Brandon Vansickle 1-3, Allen Roe 2-4, Keith Hieneman 1-4, Aaron Roe 2-4; Ironton: Drew Mains 2-4, Josh Harmon 1-3 (3-R), Chad Parker 2-2 (5 RBI, 4-R), Chuck Murnahan 1-3 (2 RBI), Josh Sands 1-2 (RBI). LOB-Greenup 9, Ironton 7.