Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

Maybe the Ironton Fighting Tigers can figure a way to make the Fifth Amendment include the fifth inning.

Ironton self-incriminated in the fifth inning on Saturday by giving up six unearned runs that erased a 6-0 lead and led to a 10-7 loss at the hands of the Nelsonville-York Buckeyes in the Division III sectional finals.

“That’s high school baseball,” said Ironton coach Red Burcham. “You’re playing well, you feel pretty good about your situation and then it quickly unravels.

“If we get a couple of keys hits early we blow the game wide-open. But we made some mistakes, let them get back in it and with high school baseball anything can happen. They took advantage of their opportunities. It’s frustrating from our standpoint.”

Ironton (13-9) scored three times in the first inning with the help of some shoddy N-Y defense.

Dane Wilson was safe on an error, Garrett Carrico walked and Jacob Koerper drilled an RBI double over the right-fielder’s head. Carrico then scored on a wild pitch.

Gage Salyers reached on an error as Koerper scored.

The Fighting Tigers made it 5-0 in the third inning.

Salyers walked, Kyle Kleinman hit into a fielder’s choice and Larry Morris was safe on a throwing error that scored Kleinman and let Morris reach third base where he scored on a wild pitch.

Ironton added a run in the fourth for a 6-0 lead when Wilson was hit by a pitch, Carrico singled, they pulled off a double steal and Koerper was safe on an error as Wilson scored.

Carrico started on the mound for Ironton and set the Buckeyes (15-6) down without a hit over the first four innings. He walked two batters in the third for the only baserunners.

But then came the fifth inning.

Levi Lent hit a flair down the left field line for N-Y’s first hit. Shakim Williams then reached on a throwing error at second base that negated what should have been a force out.

After a force out at third base, Bryce Parker was safe on a force play at second and there were runners on the corners with two outs.

Garrett Maiden singled home a run, Ted Campbell doubled for two more runs, Reece Robson was walked intentionally, Hunter Dobbs was walked to force in a run, Jacob Chaffin was hit by a pitch to drive in a run and Lent singled again to drive in two runs.

Ironton got a run back in the bottom of the fifth on a double by Ethan Duncan and a single by Brycen Thomas.

“That was one of those innings when we get a run and leave the bases loaded. If we get a big hit there, who knows how the game turns out,” said Burcham.

Down only a run after escaping what could have been a big inning for Ironton, N-Y used the momentum to score four in the sixth.

Tyler Smith led off with a walk and Parker singled. Parker went to second on catcher indifference . Both runners scored following a pair of wild pitches.

Campbell then beat out an infield roller to third, Robson doubled, Chaffin waked and Levin had a two-run double.

Ironton had eight hits with Carrico going 2-3 and Thomas 2-4.

N-Y had 10 hits with Lent 3-4 and four RBI while Campbell was 3-5 with a double and two RBI.

Nelsonville      000      064      0          =          10        10        5

Ironton            302      110      0          =          7          8          1

Hunter Dobbs. Reece Robson (6) and Reece Robson, Tyler Smith (6). Garrett Carrico, Ethan Duncan (5), Larry Morris (6) and Jacob Koerper. W-Hobbs (IP-5.0, H-7, R-7, ER-4, K-3, BB-4, WP-2, HBP-1). Save-Robson (IP-2.0, H-1, K-1, BB-2). L-Duncan (IP-0.1, H-3, R-4, ER-4, BB-1). Carrico (IP-4.2, H-4, R-6, ER-0, K-3, BB-4, IBB-1, HBP-1). Morris (IP-1.2, H-2, K-2, BB-2). Hitting-NY: Garrett Maiden 1-4 RBI, Ted Campbell 3-5 2B 2-RBI, Reece Robson 1-4 2B, Levi Lent 3-4 4-RBI, Shakim Williams 1-4, Bryce Parker 1-3; Ironton: Dan Wilson 1-4, Garrett Carrico 2-3, Jacob Koerper 1-4 2B 3-RBI, Ethan Duncan 1-3 2B, Brycen Thomas 2-4 RBI, Joel Blankenship 1-1. LOB-Ironton 11, N-Y 9.