Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PROCTORVILLE — It may not be cheaper by the dozen, but it’s an easier way to win a game.
Ironton had a five-run lead heading into the seventh inning and then scored 12 runs as they routed the Fairland Lady Dragons 20-3 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Wednesday.
Ironton (14-8) had a season-high 25 hits with hot-hitting Kenzie Cremeens going 5-6 with a double, home run and seven runs batted in.
Rylie Vaughn 4-5 and two RBI, Taiya Hamlet was 3-6 with two doubles and three RBI, Demi Sands 3-6 and two RBI, Haylee Stevens 3-5 with a triple and RBI, Riley Schreck 3-6 and Kiandra Martin 2-4.
Adrianna Hoffman was 3-4 and Libby Judge 2-3 and an RBI for Fairland.
Fairland took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Hoffman singled, Emily Bowen walked and Judge had an RBI single.
Ironton answered with five runs in the second inning.
With one out, Stevens tripled and scored on Vaughn’s base hit. An out later, Mary Beth Burton reached on an error for a run. Schreck was safe on an error putting runners at second and third where they scored on Cremeens base hit.
An outfield error sent Cremeens to second and she scored on a hit by Sands.
The lead went to 7-1 in the fourth.
Schreck singled and went to second on an error. Cremeens singled in Schreck and took second on the throw home. Hamlet doubled to drive in Cremeens.
The Lady Tigers added a run in the fifth when Vaughn singled, Sophia Caines reached on an error and Burton had an RBI single.
Fairland got two runs in the sixth to make it 8-3.
Morgan Fridley walked, Bowen singled and two ground outs scored Fridley. Montana Runnels then singled home Bowen.
Then came the seventh inning run explosion by Ironton.
Vaughn and Schreck singled and Cremeens smacked a three-run homer.
Sands and Martin singled and Hamlet had a two-run double. Stevens singled home Hamlet and Vaughn singled in Stevens. Caines was hit by a pitch, Burton reached on an error as Vaughn scored.
Schreck was safe on an error, Cremeens singled to score courtesy runner Mya Ray, Sands singled and Martin singled home Schreck and Hamlet reached on an error as a run scored.
Ironton visits Jackson on Thursday and hosts Fairland on Friday.
Ironton 050 210 (12) = 20 25 0
Fairland 100 002 0 = 3 7 8
Mary Beth Burton and Kenzie Cremeens. Emily Bowen, Adrianna Hoffman and Morgan Fridley. W-Burton (K-6, BB-2, ER-3). L-Bowen (IP-3.0, H-8, R-5, ER-1, K-3, BB-0). Hoffman (IP-4.0, H-17, R-15, ER-9, K-0, BB-0). Hitting-Ironton: Mary Beth Burton 1-6, Riley Schreck 3-6, Kenzie Cremeens 5-6 2B HR 7-rbi, Demi Sands 3-6 2-rbi, Kiandra Martin 2-4, Taiya Hamlet 3-6 2-2B 3-rbi, Haylee Stevens 3-5 3B rbi, Rylie Vaughn 4-5 2-rbi, Sophia Caines 1-4; FHS: Adrianna Hoffman 3-4, Emily Bowen 1-2, Libby Judge 2-3 rbi, Haley Lester rbi, Montana Runnels 1-3 rbi.