By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

COAL GROVE — For the Coal Grove Hornets, it was about “who is” instead of “who isn’t.”

Despite having several starters and reserves missing, the Hornets rallied together and beat the Elliott County (Ky.) Lions 5-4 in eight innings on Thursday.

“We had some kids missing, some were sick and we had some at the track meet, so we had to shift people around and play people who haven’t had much varsity experience,” said Hornets’ coach Dean Mader.

“But they kids showed a lot of determination. They kept battling.”

Elliott County (0-9) scored twice in the first inning without the aid of a hit. The Hornets got a run back in the bottom of the inning when Cody Pennington singled, was balked to second, stole third base and scored on a throwing error.

Coal Grove (3-6) took a 4-2 lead with three runs in the fifth.

Jake Jewell singled, stole second and scored on Jessie Rigsby’s base hit. Conor Markins singled and Jacob Pierce had a two-run single.

“Jewell has swung the bat well for us. He came back from the track meet and gave us a spark,” said Mader.

The Lions got a run in the sixth and another in the seventh to tie the game.

In the eighth, Jordan Beals singled, stole second and came home on Steve Breeding’s game-winning base hit with one out.

Pierce got the win with 2.2 innings of relief. He struck out four and walked one. Rigsby went 5.1 innings and struck out eight, walked five and hit a batter.

Jewell was 2-2 as Coal Grove got nine hits.

The Hornets play a doubleheader at Minford on Saturday.

Elliott Co. 200 001 10 = 4 3 3

Coal Grove 100 030 01 = 5 9 5

Dominic Thompson and Luis Loza. Jessie Rigsby, Jacob Pierce (6) and Johnathan Joseph, Jacob Pierce (2), Jake Jewell (6). W-Pierce (K-4, BB-1). Rigsby K-8, BB-1, HBP-1 IP-5.1. L-Thompson (K-12, BB-3). Hitting-Elliott: Luis Loza 1-3, Randy Whitley 1-4, Kobi Whitley 1-4; Coal Grove: Garrett Myers 1-4, Jordan Beals 1-4, Cody Pennington 1-3, Conor Markins 1-3, Jessie Rigsby 1-4, Jacob Pierce 1-4, Steve Breeding 1-2, Jake Jewell 2-2.