By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

Steve Easterling was good. Sam Hunter was better.

Easterling pitched well against a strong Ashland team, but the Tomcats’ pitcher proved to be too much as Hunter fired a one-hitter in a 4-0 win over the Ironton Fighting Tigers on Thursday.

Hunter struck out 12 and walked three while Easterling struck out seven and did not walk a batter.

“Other than a couple of mistakes, Steve pitched really well. But the Hunter kid was really tough today. We couldn’t do anything with him,” said Ironton coach Tobey Schreck.

Nick Culbertson singled in the fifth inning for Ironton’s only hit. He also drew one of the three walks.

Aaron Elam — who went to school in Ironton when his father John was mayor — had a big day at the plate. Elam went 3-3 with a home run and a triple.

Joe Stewart singled and Elam homered in the fourth to snap a scoreless tie. Evan Youngue then double and came home on an error for a 3-0 lead.

Stewart doubled and Elam tripled in the fifth for the final run.

Ashland 000 310 0 = 4 9 0

Ironton 000 000 0 = 0 1 3

Sam Hunter and Cameron Fritz. Steve Easterling and Maurice Phillips. W-Hunter (K-12, BB-3). L-Easterling (K-7, BB-0). 2B-Ashland: Cade O’bryan, Evan Yongue, Joe Stewart 2. 3B-Ashland: Aaron Elam. HR-Ashland: Aaron Elam. Hitting-Ashland: Cade O’bryan 1-3, Joe Stewart 2-4, Aaron Elam 3-3, Evan Yongue, Jake Hall 2-2; Ironton: Nick Culbertson 1-1.