Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

DOVER — The first inning of the 9-10-year-old state tournament was tough. However, it did get better from there.

A bad first inning in Sunday’s opener was too much for Ironton to overcome in an 8-5 loss to New Albany, but the Ironton Little League team bounced back on Monday to beat Maumee 8-3.

“We had a tough first inning defensively on Sunday. We then settled down and played better ball but we just didn’t get the key hits,” said Ironton manager Travis Wylie.

“(Monday) Hunter Freeman had a heckuva game. He played really well defensively at shortstop and hit a big three-run shot to extend the lead to four.”

Ironton had 15 hits against Maumee led by Jonathan Wylie who was 3-3 with an RBI, Connor Kleinman who was 3-4 with a double, Tommy Sheridan 2-4 and two RBIs, Brady Moatz 2-3 with a double, Ian Ginger 2-4 and Freeman 1-3 with a three-run homer.

Braden Schreck went the first 2.1 innings for the win. He struck out two and gave up just one hit.

Maddox Vass went 1.1 innings with a strikeout. He did not allow a baserunner.

“As a team we’re starting to get settled in and hopefully we can start playing some real good baseball. Win each day is our motto right now,” said Travis Wylie.

New Albany erased a 3-0 Ironton lead in the top of the first inning with four runs and added three more in the fourth.

Ironton had six hits with Freeman, Kleinman, Wylie, Sheridan, Moatz and Owen Johnson all getting a hit. Kleinman, Sheridan and Moatz each had a double with Sheridan and Moatz getting two RBIs apiece.

Monday’s Game

Ironton 130 310 = 8 15 0

Maumee 003 000 = 3 4 1

Braden Schreck, Hunter Freeman (3), Kerstin Roach (4), Maddox Vass (5). WP-Schreck. Ironton hitting: Hunter Freeman 1-3 rbi-3 HR, Connor Kleinman 3-4 2B, Jonathon Wylie 3-3 rbi, Braden Schreck 1-4 rbi, Tommy Sheridan 2-4 rbi-2, Brady Moatz 2-3 2B, Maddox Vass 1-1, Ian Ginger 2-4.

Sunday’s Game

Ironton 300 002 = 5 6 0

New Albany 400 31x = 8 9 0

Jonathan Wylie, Hunter Freeman (4), Braden Schreck (5). LP-Wylie. Ironton hitting: Hunter Freeman 1-2, Connor Kleinman 1-3 2B, Jonathon Wylie 1-2, Tommy Sheridan 1-3 rbi-2 2B, Owen Johnson 1-3, Brady Moatz 1-1 rbi-2 2B.