Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

SOUTH POINT — A big start by South Point helped fight off a big finish by the Rock Hill Redmen.
The Pointers built an 11-3 lead and then withstood a seventh inning rally to outlast the Redmen 11-9 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Friday.
South Point (11-5, 5-4) scored four runs each in the first and second innings.
Tanner Hall reached on an error, Brody Blackwell singled, Logan Wade double, Jonathan Henline was hit by a pitch, Travis Dillon singled and Drew Smith was safe on an error in the first.
Rock Hill (7-4, 5-4) got a run in the second when Kaden France walked, Seth Nichols put down a sacrifice and Jake Blake singled.
But South Point got four in the bottom of the inning as Hall reached on an error, Blackwell singled, Wade walked, Henline singled, Dillon was safe on an error, Douglas Shaffer hit a sacrifice fly and Max Tabor doubled.
Each team got two runs in the third.
Cody Lewis walked, Kaleb Kidd singled and Landon Smith, Kyle Stanfield and France all walked for Rock Hill’s runs.
Hall singled, Blackwell doubled him home and a passed ball scored Blackwell.
The Pointers got their final run in the fourth when Smith singled, stole second, Elijah Adams put down a sacrifice and Hall singled.
Rock Hill then mounted a six-run rally that fell short in the seventh.
Stanfield walked, France and Nichols singled and Mason Darby walked to force in a run. Blagg hit a sacrifice fly and then Lewis, Logan Hankins, Kidd and Smith all singled.
After a fly out, France singled but reliever Travis Dillon got a pop out to end the game.
South Point had 12 hits as Hall went 3-3 with a double and an RBI, Blackwell was 3-5 with a double and RBI and Henline 2-2 and an RBI,
Wade went four innings to get the win. He struck out six but walked eight and allowed only three hits.
Rock Hill also had 12 hits with Hankins 2-5, Kidd 24 and an RIB, Smith 2-3 and two RBI, France 2-3 and an RBI and Nichols 2-4.
Lewis started and took the loss for the Redmen.
On Monday, Rock Hill visits Fairland and South Point hosts Portsmouth in conference games.
Rock Hill    012    000    6    =    9    12    4
South Point    442    100    x    =    11    12    3
Cody Lewis, Nick Blankenship (3), Jaret Bacorn (6) and Kaleb Kidd. Logan Wade, Tanner Hall (5), Travis Dillon (7) and Max Tabor. W-Wade (IP-4.0, K-6, BB-8, H-3, R-3, ER-3). Hall (IP-2.1, BB-3, H-7, R-6, ER-6). Save-Dillon (IP-0.2, H-2). L-Lewis (IP-2.0, K-4, BB-1, R-8, ER-2, H-6). Blankenship (IP-3.2, K-2, BB-3, H-6, R-3, ER-2). Bacorn (IP-0.1). Hitting-RH: Jake Blagg 1-1 2-RBI, Cody Lewis 1-3 RBI, Logan Hankins 2-5, Kaleb Kidd 2-4 RBI, Landon Smith 2-3 2-RBI, Kaden France 2-3 RBI, Seth Nichols 2-4, Mason Darby RBI; SP: Tanner Hall 3-3 RBI 2B, Brody Blackwell 3-5 RBI 2B, Logan Wade 1-3 2-RBI 2B, Jonathan Henline 2-2 RBI, Travis Dillon 1-2 2-RBI, Douglas Shaffer RBI, Max Tabor 1-4 RBI 2B, Drew Smith 1-4.