Knowing the second-ranked Wheelersburg Pirates were a fastball hitting team, the Ironton Fighting Tigers coach decided to throw a breaking ball pitcher.

Wednesday, May 17, 2000

Knowing the second-ranked Wheelersburg Pirates were a fastball hitting team, the Ironton Fighting Tigers coach decided to throw a breaking ball pitcher.

But the moved didn’t work out as Wheelersburg and senior lefthander Josh Newman blanked Ironton 8-0 Tuesday in the Division III district semifinals.

"We took a gamble," said Lewis. "We threw two fastball pitchers at them at home and they scored 17 runs, so we decided to pitch Greg Mountain.

"Greg didn’t throw that bad, but he wasn’t getting the calls on his corner pitches and had to groove the ball. He doesn’t throw hard enough right now to blow it by anyone, so that made it a little easier for their hitters."

The Pirates scored five runs over the first two innings to take the lead, and Newman did the rest.

Newman struck out 13, walked three, and allowed five hits in going the distance.

"Newman was on top of his game today. He’s always pitched well against us," said Lewis. "But I thought Mark Mains came in and did a nice job for us."

Mark Mains, who has been suffering from a touch of tendinitis in his shoulder the past few weeks, pitched the final five innings for Ironton (13-9). He struck out two, gave up three unearned runs, and uncharacteristically walked five.

"My shoulder was a little tender, but it was all right. The thing that bothered me was the hole dug in the mound. I kept slipping which is probably why I walked so many," said Mains.

Michael Perkins was hit by the second pitch of the game to ignite the three-run Wheelersburg first inning.

Lance Davis singled and Newman had a run-scoring double. Michael Branon grounded out as a run scored, and Dan Sutton had a run-scoring base hit to left.

The Pirates came right back to score two more in the second inning.

Jeremy Williams was hit by a pitch, Perkins singled, both moved up on a wild pitch, and Newman hit a sacrifice fly. Branon grounded out again with to end the inning.

Adam Conn reached third on a dropped fly ball with one out in the third and Dustin Woodrum grounded out as the run scored.

Two more unearned runs scored in the fourth.

Perkins walked and Newman reached on a one-out error to put runners on the corners. After Mains struck out the next batter, Dan Sutton singled home both runners.

Ironton had three runners reach third base.

Drew Mains singled in the third, went to second on a bad pickoff throw, and took third on a wild pitch. He also doubled in the fifth and reached third on another wild pitch.

Jon Sites walked, went to second on a passed ball, and stole third in the fourth.

Sophomore Drew Mains was 2-4 with a double, Sites, a senior, was 1-1 with two walks and a stolen base, and freshman Matt White and Tyler Whaley were 1-3.

"The young kids did a pretty good job for their first tournament game," said Lewis. "We had three freshmen, three sophomores, and two juniors in the lineup. To be that young and go 13-9 is a pretty good season."

Ironton senior outfielder Jimmy Peyton turned an ankle in practice Monday and did not dress for the game.

The only other Ironton senior is first baseman Clark Cooper.

"We only had three seniors, but they did a heck of a job for us all year. They’ve got a lot to be proud of for the effort they gave us," said Lewis.

Wheelersburg (24-3) plays Zane Trace at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

Wheelersburg 321 200 0 – 8 7 1

Ironton 000 000 0 – 0 5 3

Josh Newman and Lance Davis. Greg Mountain, Mark Mains (3) and Jon Sites. W-Newman (13-K, 3-W). L-Mountain (0-K, 0-W, 4-H). Mains 0-ER, 3-H, 2-K, 5-W. HBP-by Mountain (Michael Perkins, Jeremy Williams, Lance Davis). WP-Newman 4, Mountain. PB-Davis. SB-Wh: Michael Perkins, Lance Davis, Josh Newman; Ironton: Jon Sites. LOB-Wheelersburg 9, Ironton 7. 2B-Wh: Josh Newman; Ironton: Drew Mains. SF-Wh: Josh Newman. Hitting-Wh: Michael Perkins 1-2, Lance Davis 1-4, Josh Newman 2-3 (2 RBI), Michael Branon 2 RBI, Dan Sutton 2-3 (3 RBI), Jeremy Williams 1-2; Ironton: Drew Mains 2-4, Jon Sites 1-1, Matt White 1-3, Tyler Whaley 1-3.