COAL GROVE — Offense has carried the South Point Pointers early this season.

Tuesday, April 06, 1999

COAL GROVE — Offense has carried the South Point Pointers early this season. It was back at work again Monday.

The Pointers used a 13-hit attack and shook off a 6-3 deficit to post a 17-7 win over the Coal Grove Hornets in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

"We came out really flat tonight, and when they went up on us it kind of woke us up," said Pointers coach Chad Belville.

Coal Grove had nine hits, but the Hornets were guilty of six errors.

"We just made too many errors, mental and physical," said Hornets coach John Jones. "We let the bottom of the order hurt us."

South Point took a 1-0 lead in the first on a two-out home run by Robbie Lozier. Coal Grove tied it when Brad Miller singled, stole second, and scored on Howie McCormick’s base hit.

The Pointers went up 3-1 in the top of the third.

Jared Waggoner walked but was thrown out trying to take third on a sacrifice bunt attempt. Brian Stephens and Lozier singled for a run, and Stephens scored on a passed ball.

Coal Grove answered with five in the bottom of the inning to take a 6-3 lead.

Josh Collins and Brandon Keeney walked, Jarred Keaton reached on an error, and Mike Borders delivered a two-run single. Miller doubled home a run, and Dean Mader singled home the final two runs.

In the fourth, B. J. Belville walked, Aaron Murray pinch ran and stole second, Waggoner singled and stole second, and Perdue reached on an error as two runs scored. Stephens then squeezed home the tying run.

"Once we got it tied up, that seemed to get us going," said coach Belville. "Waggoner came in an did a heck of a job. He shut them down. He saved us. He was a warrior on the mound today."

South Point erupted for six runs in the fifth to take a 12-6 lead.

Lozier walked and Ermalovich homered. Murray singled, stole second, and scored on Waggoner’s base hit. Perdue then unloaded a two-run homer. Stephens reached on an error, Shawn Blake singled, a passed ball advanced the runners, and Lozier was safe on an error to cap the rally.

South Point added five in the seventh.

Waggoner was safe on an error and Stephens doubled him home. Blake walked, Lozier singled and two runs scored when the ball got through the outfielder. Ermalovich doubled home Lozier and Patrick Pannell singled in the final run.

Coal Grove added a run in the bottom of the seventh when Keeney singled, Jarred Keaton walked, Andy Dean singled, and Josh Keaton hit a sacrifice fly.

South Point is 3-0 and 2-0 in the OVC. Coal Grove fell to 1-2 and 0-1.

On Tuesday, the Pointers play at Northwest and the Hornets visit Portsmouth.

South Point 102 360 5 – 17 13 2

Coal Grove 015 000 1 – 7 9 6

James Ermalovich, Jared Waggoner (3) and Robbie Lozier. Brad Miller, Josh Fields (5) and Dean Mader. W-Waggoner (6-K, 1-W, 4-H). L-Miller. 2B-SP: Brian Stephens, James Ermalovich; CG: Brandon Keeney, Jarrod Keaton, Brad Miller. HR-SP: Robbie Lozier, James Ermalovich, Jared Perdue. Hitting-SP: Brian Stephens 2-5, Robbie Lozier 3-4, James Ermalovich 2-4, Jared Waggoner 2-3; CG: Brandon Keeney 2-3, Brad Miller 2-3.