WHEELERSBURG — Pitching made a “Hughes” difference for the Ironton Fighting Tigers. Jacob Hughes pitched a two-hitter as Ironton blanked the Wheelersburg Pirates 2-0 in a non-league game on Thursday. Hughes struck out nine, did not issue a walk and used just 87 pitches as he got the complete game win along with the help of some good base running and clutch hitting. “He’s just a bulldog,” said Ironton coach John Hunt. “He just goes out there and he just keeps on playing and he

PROCTORVILLE — Ava Bihl wasn’t perfect. But she came close. The Ironton junior pitcher fired a five-inning no-hitter with only a pair of walks preventing her from getting a perfect game as the Lady Fighting Tigers blanked the Fairland Lady Dragons 10-0 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Thursday. Bihl struck out 14 of the 15 outs to get the win. She also went 1-3 at the plate with a run batted in. Ironton (3-2, 1-0) banged out 10 hits with seven different players connecting

AID — In a battle between two of the area’s premier pitchers, it was a third baseman who made the difference. Symmes Valley Lady Vikings’ Brenna Tibbs pitched a one-hitter in a 7-0 win over the South Point Lady Pointers. While Tibbs was locked up against the Lady Pointers’ Kota Copley, Lady Vikings’ third baseman Marley Ferguson went 2-2 with a home run and double and drove in three runs. “We beat a good team and a good pitcher,” said Lady Vikings’ coach Jeff “Odie” Estep. “T