Ethan Preston answered the call. Anthony Harper answered the bell.

Preston pitched a complete game and Harper went 3-for-3 with four runs scored as the Ironton Fighting Tigers beat the Chesapeake Panthers 9-1 Tuesday.

Preston gave up six hits, struck out six, walked just one and the only run was unearned.

“Any time you need someone to pitch, Preston says ‘give me the ball.’ He’s a competitor. He just goes out and battles,” said Ironton coach Tobey Schreck.

Harper doubled and scored when Jonathan Williams reached on an error in the first inning.

The lead went to 3-0 in the third inning. Josh Pancake singled with one out, Harper singled and an outfield error on the play scored Pancake. Preston grounded out as Harper came home.

Ironton pushed across three more runs in the fifth inning.

Pancake and Harper walked and Williams doubled in a run. An error on the play scored Harper with Williams going to third base. Darren Dalton was safe on an error as the third run scored.

The Fighting Tigers added three more runs in the sixth to lead 9-0.

With one out, Josh Moore reached on an error, Pancake singled and both moved up on a wild pitch. Harper singled home Moore and Cameron Miller delivered a 2-run single.

The Panthers avoided a shutout with a run in the top of the seventh.

Jimmy Conrad singled, moved up on a wild pitch, took third on a ground out and scored on an error.

Pancake finished 2-3. Brandon Noble and Conrad each went 2-3 for the Panthers.

Ironton (12-7) hosts Wheelersburg at 5 p.m. Thursday while Chesapeake plays at 5 p.m. Wednesday against Fairland in a home game.

Chesapeake 000 000 1 = 1 6 6

Ironton 102 033 x = 9 7 1

Hunter Bare, Seth Skeens (6) and Brandon Noble. Ethan Preston and Keith Wetzel. W-Preston (6-K, 1-BB, 0-ER). L-Bare (6-R, 5-H, 6-K, 2-BB). 2B-Ironton: Anthony Harper, Jonathan Williams. Hitting-Chesapeake: Brandon Noble 2-3, Nick Parnell 1-3, Jimmy Conrad 2-3, Michael Walters 1-3; Ironton: Josh Pancake 2-3, Anthony Harper 3-3, Cameron Miller 1-1, Jonathan Williams 1-4.