Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PEDRO — If pitching and defense are the bloodline of winning, the Red Cross must have been pumping those two facets of the game into the veins of the South Point Lady Pointers.

South Point got strong pitching from Abby Hannah and the defense made great plays and no errors to beat the Rock Hill Redwomen 3-0 in the Division III sectional finals on Friday.

“Our girls really put together a fine defensive effort tonight behind a strong pitching and hitting performance by Abby Hannah,” said Lady Pointers’ coach Tanner Heaberlin.

“Defensive mistakes have been our Achilles Heel this season, but tonight we finally put it all together. It was our first error-free game of the season and we got a couple of hits when we needed them.”

Hannah pitched a four-hitter and was 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and a triple to lead the Lady Pointers.

Jill Hairston took the loss as she scattered nine hits and struck out two.

South Point got the only run it needed in the first inning on a walk to Haley Rawlins and an RBI double by Sylvia Griffith who was playing only her second game since returning from a broken hand.

“We figured Rock Hill would pitch around Haley Rawlins. We got lucky when Sylvia Griffith got cleared to play and she came through in the first inning with a double to score Haley,” said Heaberlin.

The Lady Pointers added a pair of insurance runs in the fourth inning.

Emilee Powell bunted for a hit and Abby Hannah cranked a one-out, two-run home runs.

South Point will play Wellston at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Unioto in the district semifinals.

Rock Hill finished the season 22-2.

“Rock Hill played a great game as well. We just got the hits we needed and they didn’t. Coach Sammy Gue and Rock Hill had a great season. He’s running a great program out there,” said Heaberlin.

“I’m proud of our girls’ effort and attitude tonight. They played hard and didn’t get rattled once.”

South Point 100 200 0 = 2 9 0

Rock Hill 000 000 0 = 0 4 0

Abby Hannah and Emilee Powell. Jill Hairston and Riann Keating. W-Hannah (K-3). L-Hairston (K-2). Hitting-SP: Abbey Winkler 1-4, Lexi Smith 1-4, Haley Rawlins 1-2, Sylvia Griffith 1-4 2B rbi, Halie Powell 1-3, Emilee Powell 1-3, Leah Lawson 1-3, Abby Hannah 2-3 3B HR rbi-2; RH: Jenna Lane 1-3, Makenzi Harrah 1-3, Riann Keating 1-3 2B, Brooklynn Kingrey 1-3.