Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PORTSMOUTH — This game belonged to the offenses.

The Coal Grove Hornets built a 10-3 lead but it proved to be far from safe as the Portsmouth Trojans rallied for a 13-12 Ohio Valley Conference win on Monday.

Coal Grove actually outhit the Trojans 14-12 but couldn’t halt their momentum late in the game.

“We hit the ball really well, but give credit to Portsmouth. They didn’t quit and battled back,” said Hornets’ coach Dean Mader.

Chase McKnight tripled, Jacob Clark singled and Daniel Rutherford tripled as Coal Grove took a 2-0 first inning lead.

The Hornets used a walk to Isaac Howard, singles by Cole Gannon and McKnight and an error to take a 5-0 lead in the second.

Darren Bloomfield reached on an error, Jeb Jones tripled for a run and Jordan Case singled to make it 60 in the top of the third, but Portsmouth got two runs in the bottom of the inning on hits by Mikey Potts, Blake Wedebrook, Ryan Williams and Zach Delotell along with a walk.

McKnight singled, stole second and Clark singled for a run in the fourth but the Torjans answered with a run in the bottom of the inning on a walk, two passed balls and a ground out.

Coal Grove made it 10-3 in the fifth on a hit by Howard, a walk to McKnight and Clark’s double.

But the Trojans scored six times in the bottom of the inning to get within 10-9.

The lead went to 12-9 in the top of the sixth on an error, Jones’ double and Howard’s base hit.

Portsmouth continued its comeback with five runs in the bottom of the sixth on two walks and hits by Williams, Delotell, Reese Johnson, Ty Oliver and Wedebrook’s second bunt single.

Coal Grove went down in order in the seventh.

McKnight and Jones each went 3-4, Clark 3-5, Howard 2-3, Gannon 1-3 and Rutherford 1-5 for the Hornets (2-2, 0-2).

Williams was 3-4, Delotell and Johnson 2-3 and Wedebrook 2-4.

On Wednesday, Coal Grove hosts Ironton and Portsmouth is at Chesapeake.

Coal Grove 232 122 0 = 12 14 2

Portsmouth 002 165 x = 13 12 3

Chase McKnight, Isaac Howard (5), Dylan Malone (6) and Jeb Jones. Zach Delotell and Ty Oliver. W-Delotell (K-5, BB-2). L-Malone. Hitting-CG: Chase McKnight 3-4 3B, Jacob Clark 3-5 2B, Daniel Rutherford 1-5 3B, Jeb Jones 3-4 2-2B 3B, Isaac Howard 2-3, Jordan Case 1-4, Cole Gannon 1-3; Portsmouth: Ryan Williams 3-4, Zach Delotell 2-3, Reese Johnson 2-3, Ty Oliver 1-2, Schwamberger 1-3, Mikey Potts 1-2, Blake Wedebrook 2-4.