Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

SOUTH POINT — Daniel Rutherford was on top of his game which put the Coal Grove Hornets on top of the scoreboard.

Rutherford threw a complete game as the Hornets beat the South Point Pointers 9-3 on Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Rutherford allowed just three hits, struck out nine, walked one and all three runs were unearned.

“Rutherford threw the ball really well and we hit the ball well. We’re starting to play better and more consistent,” said Hornets’ coach Dean Mader.

Coal Grove took a 3-0 lead it the first inning.

With two outs, Rutherford doubled, Jeb Jones singled, Dylan Malone doubled and Isaac Howard singled.

The lead went to 6-0 in the fourth.

Howard walked, Cole Gannon singled and Chase McKnight tripled them home. Clark singled to drive in McKnight.

South Point got three runs in the fifth to trail 6-3.

With one out, Travis Dillon reached on an error, Drew Adams doubled, Christian Pritchard walked and Douglas Shaffer grounded out to drive in a run. Chris Woodard then singled home two runs.

But the Hornets got the runs back in the seventh.

Rutherford singled, Malone walked, Howard singled and an error on the play scored two runs. Darin Bloomfield singled in the final run.

Rutherford, Malone and Howard were all 2-3 while Clark was 2-4 as the Hornets collected 12 hits.

On Monday, Coal Grove hosts Chesapeake and South Points visits Fairland.

Coal Grove 300 300 3 = 9 12 2

South Point 000 030 0 = 3 3 1

Daniel Rutherford and Jeb Jones. Douglas Shaffer, Jonathan Henline (4) and Christian Pritchard. W-Rutherford (K-9, BB-1). L-Shaffer (IP-3.2, K-3, BB-1, H-8, R-6). Hitting-CG: Chase McKnight 1-4, Jacob Clark 2-4, Daniel Rutherford 2-3 2B, Jeb Jones 1-3, Dylan Malone 2-3 2B, Isaac Howard 2-3, Darin Bloomfield 1-4, Cole Gannon 1-4; SP: Chris Woodard 1-3, Brandon Layne 1-3, Drew Adams 1-3 2B.