Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CHILLICOTHE — This is one time when Rock Hill coach Barry Litteral didn’t mind Jonathan Joseph being stingy.

Joseph pitched a one-hitter and the Rock Hill Redmen blanked the Meigs Marauders 6-0 on Thursday in the Division III district semifinals at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Joseph struck out 13 and walked just one during a steady rain that fell throughout the game. He gave up only two ground outs — both comebackers.

“Jonathan threw the ball extremely well. It makes it easy when they hit it in the air,” said Litteral.

“It helps not to walk anybody. The two walks he gave up didn’t hurt us.”

Rock Hill (14-6) will play Portsmouth West in the district finals at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Portsmouth West upset Piketon 4-2 in the other semifinal game.

“We played well together as a group and did the little things they needed to win. Evan our outs were hard-hit balls,” said Litteral.

Treay McKinney doubled with one out in the first inning for Meigs’ only hit. After McKinney stole third base, Joseph struck out the net two batters to end the inning.

Rock Hill got the only run it really needed in the second inning when Joseph had a leadoff triple and scored on a ground out by Aaron Dalton.

The Redmen made it 3-0 in the fourth.

Jack Goodwin doubled and Evan Morris singled for the first run. Morris stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a hit by Jordan Hairston.

Rock Hill got two more runs in the fifth.

With one out, Jonah Cox walked, Delawder singled, both moved up on a wild pitch and Goodwin had a two-run single.

The final run scored in the sixth when Drew McClaskey singled, went to second base on a wild pickoff throw, took third on a wild pitch and scored on a hit by Delawder.

Goodwin was 2-4 with two RBIs and Delawder was also 2-4 as Rock Hill had eight hits.

Rock Hill 010 221 0 = 6 8 0

Meigs 000 000 0 = 0 1 1

Jonathan Joseph and Austin Kidd. Taylor Rowe, Ty Phelps (5) and Michael Davis. W-Joseph IP-7, H-1, K-13, BB-2. L-Rowe IP-4.1, K-1, BB-4, R-5, H-6. Phelps IP-2.2, K-5, BB-1, H-2, R-1 2B-RH: Jack Goodwin. 3B-RH: Jonathan Joseph. Hitting-Rock Hill: Laden Delawder 2-4, Jack Goodwin 2-4, Evan Morris 1-4, Jordan Hairston 1-3, Drew McClaskey 1-3; Meigs: Treay McKinney 1-3.