The way Jeff Gilkison was pitching, it was going to take almost a perfect effort to beat him.

So, that's what Greg Linn did.

Linn, a senior righthander, was almost perfect as he pitched a no-hitter Tuesday in the Ironton Fighting Tigers 1-0 win over the Chesapeake Panthers in the Division III sectional tournament.

Linn threw just 68 pitches, 49 for strikes, as he allowed only three baserunners. He struck out four, didn't issue a walk and hit a batter. Ironton was guilty of two errors.

"I was able to put the ball where I wanted and I kept them guessing," Linn said. "I made them hit the pitches I wanted."

Gilkison, who pitched a five-inning no-hitter earlier this season against Gallipolis, allowed six hits, struck out six and did not walk a batter as he went six inning.

"That's the best game Jeff's pitched in the last two years," Panthers coach Joe Waugh said.

The only run of the game came in the third inning.

Chris Rakes reached on an error to start the inning. Ryan Walker put down a perfect bunt to move Rakes into scoring position at second base.

Troy Allen then singled to center field as Rakes scooted home.

"All he threw me were fastballs, so I figured he'd throw one and he did," Allen said.

"Greg pitched a great game," Ironton coach Mark Lewis said. "We played good defense behind him. We executed when we needed the run. We did the things you have to have when you're in a tight ball game."

The key defensive play was by Ironton centerfielder Brigham Waginger who made a diving catch of a fly ball off the bat of Matt Rowe leading off the fifth inning.

"I thought the ball was going to (right fielder) Troy Allen, but then it started coming back toward me," Waginger said.

Ironton, 15-7, will now have an even tougher task ahead. The Fighting Tigers play at 5 p.m. Friday in the sectional finals as they visit top-seeded Fairland and East Carolina-bound pitching ace Michael Hill.

"We can enjoy this win for a couple of hours, but then we have to face the reality of Fairland sitting there and waiting. What we did today won't mean anything Friday if we don't win," Ironton coach Mark Lewis said.

Dustin Preston was 2-for-3 to lead Ironton. Brigham Waginger, Patrick Kouns and Allen were all 1-2 and Waginger 1-3.

The last time an Ironton pitcher tossed a no-hitter was 1983 when Larry Collins and Rick Ferguson combined to beat Coal Grove. The last individual no-hitter by one pitcher was Bill Bob Ackison in 1977.

Phil Murnahan, drafted by the Oakland A's, holds the record with three no-hitters, all in 1968.

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Jeff Gilkison and Bryan Huff. Greg Linn and Dustin Preston. W-Linn, 5-1 (4-K, 0-BB, 1-HBP). L-Gilkison (6-K, 0-BB, 0-ER). SB-Coal Grove: Cory Methax; Ironton: Troy Allen, J.J. Johnson. Sac-Ironton: Ryan Walker. Hitting-Ironton: Brigham Waginger 1-3, Dennis Gagai 1-3, Dustin Preston 2-3, Patrick Kouns 1-2, Troy Allen 1-2 (RBI).