After losing back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference games, the Dragons were back on their heels heading into Thursday’s Division III sectional tournament game.

Friday, May 05, 2000

After losing back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference games, the Dragons were back on their heels heading into Thursday’s Division III sectional tournament game.

But behind the pitching of Matt Roy and a 10-hit attack, Fairland beat the Coal Grove Hornets 7-5.

Roy did his job by striking out eight and not walking a batter in going the distance for the win. Keaton had his best effort of the season as he struck out eight and walked seven.

"I was just glad to get a win after losing the last two nights," Fairland coach Roger Snyder said. "I wasn’t sure how we’d respond. But it was a good ball game.

"Matt did a nice job tonight. We left a lot of people in scoring position and so did they."

Fairland (12-5) plays at Wheelersburg Tuesday in the sectional finals. Wheelersburg edged Chesapeake 4-3.

Coal Grove (8-7) got a good effort from Josh Keaton who struck out eight and walked seven.

"Josh gave us five strong innings, and then he got a little tired. But he kept us in it for awhile," Hornets coach John Jones said.

After two scoreless innings, Coal Grove got a run in the top of the third.

Tim McClean doubled, Jarred Keaton singled, and McClean scored on a double steal.

Fairland came back to get a 2-1 lead in its half of the inning.

Kyle Leadmon doubled, Toby Morrison walked, and Stuart Shepherd spanked a two-out, two-run double.

The Dragons went up 3-1 in the fourth when Chris Hardy hit a solo home run.

Coal Grove rallied to take a 4-3 lead in the fifth.

Ryan Brown got a bunt single, stole second, and scored on McClean’s base hit. Jarred Keaton singled him to third, stole second, and Dave Webb and Josh Fields each reached on errors to score two more runs.

Fairland then staged its own rally with four runs in the sixth to lead 7-4.

K. C. Jones walked, Ryan Boso single, they pulled off a double steal, and Josh Dunfee had a two-run single. Morrison walked and Shepherd doubled in a pair.

J. W. Jones walked to load the bases, and Roy put down a squeeze bunt to score the final run.

Coal Grove came back to score a run in the seventh, but fell a run short of tying the game.

With one out, Jarred Keaton singled, moved up on a passed ball, and scored on David Webb’s single.

The two teams meet again Friday at Fairland, the tangle Monday at Coal Grove.

Coal Grove 001 030 1 – 5 11 1

Fairland 002 104 x – 7 10 3

Josh Keaton, Eric Tackett (6) and Dean Mader. Matt Roy and Jarred Schneider. W-Roy (8-K, 0-W). L-Keaton (8-K, 7-W). 2B-CG: Tim McClean; Fairland: Kyle Leadmon, Stuart Shepherd 3. HR-Fairland: Chris Hardy. Hitting-Coal Grove: Tim McClean 3-4, Jarred Keaton 3-4, Josh Fields 2-4, Dave Webb 1-4, Josh Keaton 1-3, Ryan Brown 1-3; Fairland: Ryan Boso 2-3, Josh Dunfee 2-4, Kyle Leadmon 1-3, Stuart Shepherd 3-4, J. W. Jones 1-3, Chris Hardy 1-3.