Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PEDRO — It’s the little things that mean a lot.

Good pitching, getting infield hits and moving runners played a key part of the Rock Hill Redmen season-opening 7-1 win over the Fairland Dragons on Tuesday in the Wooden Bat Classic.

Cody Lewis, Logan Hankins and Landon Smith combined on a two-hitter and seven strikeouts for the Redmen who had three infield hits.

“The kids battled. It was hard to sit through the rain on Monday. They were nervous but we got through it,” said Rock Hill coach Barry Litteral.

“Fairland played well. We just battled and did the little things and manufactured some runs. We had really good pitching and our defense was good. I was extremely pleased with the pitching.”

Rock Hill snapped a scoreless tie with three runs in the fourth.

Hankins walked, stole second, Smith had an infield hit and stole second, and Kyle Stanfield’s suicide squeeze bunt went for a hit as the runners scored.

Mason Darby capped the rally with an RBI double.

“The bunt by Stanfield was big. It got us going and we were able to come out of it after that,” said Litteral.

The Redmen added a run in the fifth when Lewis singled, moved up on a wild pitch and passed ball and scored on Kaleb Kidd’s sacrifice fly.

Fairland got its run in the top of the sixth on a walk to Trace Adkins, a wild pitch and a single by Zach Crawford who had both hits for the Dragons (0-2).

Roc Hill got three runs in the bottom of the inning.

Stanfield walked, Jaret Bacon got an infield hit and Seth Nichols had an RBI single.

After a force play at third base, Jake Blagg grounded out to score a run and then Lewis and Hankins singled for a run.

Lewis started and struck out seven and walked two. Hankins — who got the win — came on and struck out four and walked one. Smith went an inning striking out three and walking three.

Lewis was 2-4 as Rock Hill had nine hits.

Rock Hill hosts Fairview, Ky., at 5:15 on Thursday.

Fairland            000            001            0            =            1            2            3

Rock Hill            000            313            x            =            7            9            0

Reilly Sowards, Dairus Stapelton (4), Looney (5) and Eli Bowen. Cody Lewis, Logan Hankins (4), Landon Smith (7) and Kaleb Kidd. W-Hankins (K-4, BB-1). Lewis (K-7, BB-2). Smith (K-3, BB-3). L- Stapleton. Hitting-FHS: Zach Crawford 2-2; RH: Cody Lewis 2-4, Logan Hankins 1-3, Kaleb Kidd 1-3, Landon Smith 1-1 2-BB, Kyle Stanfield 1-2, Jaret Bacorn 1-3, Seth Nichols 1-2, Mason Darby 1-3 2B.