Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

GALLIPOLIS — It was like putting the game in slow motion.

The Fairland Dragons used the pitching of Adam Taylor to slow down Gallipolis as they beat the Blue Devils 6-5in their season opener Tuesday.

Taylor went 5.1 innings and allowed four runs. He struck out two and walked two, but Fairland coach Bryan Ward said Taylor was extremely effective in slowing the Blue Devils’ potent offense.

“Taylor kept us in the game. He changed speeds well and had good location,” said Ward. “We kept (Ty) Warnimont off the bases. He’s the key to their offense. He’s killed us in the past, so that was big.”

Fairland took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Kyle Sowards walked, stole second and scored on a hit by Collin Damron.

Gallipolis got the run back in the bottom of the inning but Fairland scored a run in the second.

Dylan Murphy and Garrett Scheiblehood walked, Taylor’s sacrifice moved the runners up and a throwing error on the play scored the run.

The Blue Devils scored twice in the second inning to go up 3-2, but Fairland tied the game in the top of the third.

Trace Adkins singled, moved up on a balk, Damron walked and a throwing error on a passed ball scored the run.

The Dragons regained the lead with a run in the fourth.

Scheibelhood walked, Taylor and Luke Phillips singled to load the bases and Sowards reached on an error as the run scored.

Gallipolis tied the game with a run in the fifth, but Fairland took the lead for good with two runs in the sixth.

Sowards and Adkins singled to put runners on the corners and Damron hit a sacrifice fly. Adkins moved up on the throw home and went to third base on a passed ball.

Tyler Campbell then beat out a squeeze bunt as the go-ahead run scored.

Adkins was 2-5 as Fairland collected eight hits.

Fairland hosts Portsmouth and visits Ironton Saturday.

Fairland 111 102 0 = 6 8 3

Gallipolis 120 010 1 = 5 9 3

Adam Taylor, Collin Damron (IP1.1) and Garrett Scheiblehood. Gage Childers, Anthony Sipple (6) and Ty Warnimont. W-Taylor (IP-5.1, K-2, BB-2, H-9, 4-R). Save-Damron (IP-1.1, K-0, BB-2, HBP-1). L-Childers (IP-5.2, K-8, BB-5). Anthony (K-4, BB-2). Hitting-Fairland: Kyle Sowards 1-4 rbi, Trace Adkins 2-5, Collin Damon 1-3 rbi, Tyler Campbell 1-4 rbi, Dylan Murphy 1-3 rbi, Adam Taylor 1-2, Luke Phillips 1-4; Gallipolis: Gage Childers 2-4 2B, Eric Sheets 2-4, Anthony Sipple 1-4 2B, Kole Carter 2-4 2B, Matt Bailey 1-4.