Fairland, Rock Hill notch OVC baseball wins
Published 4:36 am Thursday, April 15, 2010
SOUTH POINT — The Fairland Dragons made a good first impression.
Fairland finished its first run through the league schedule with Alex Thackston throwing a one-hitter in the Dragons 7-0 win over the South Point Pointers Wednesday.
The Dragons and Rock Hill are tied for first place at 4-1.
“That’s one time through the league and we’re right where we want to be. We have half a season to decide it,” said Fairland coach Bryan Ward.
Thackston struck out nine and walked two. Steve McClure singled down the left field line to lead off the fifth inning for the Pointers’ only hit.
“Thackston threw well again,” said Ward.
The Dragons (6-2) took a 2-0 lead in the second inning.
Tyler Duty reached error, stole second base, Tanner Sowards and Javier Rowe walked to load the bases. Jon Baise walked to force home a run and Thackston singled for the second run.
The lead was 5-0 in the third after Fisher doubled, went to third base on a fly out and Duty put down a squeeze bunt. Brandon Begil and Eric Riley then walked and Sowards had a two-run single.
A run scored in the fifth when Matt Campbell doubled and Duty singled, Begil put down a sacrifice and Riley and Sowards walked to force in a run.
In the sixth, Thackston and Campbell singled and Duty hit into a fielder’s choice.
Fairland plays at Huntington, W.Va., Thursday.
Fairland 023 011 0 = 7 8 2
South Point 000 000 0 = 1 1 3
Alex Thackston and Matt Campbell. Adkins, Jenkins (3) and Steve McClure. W-Thackston (9-K, 2-BB). L-Adkins (1-K, 6-BB, 5-R, 4-H). 2B-Fairland: Chad Fisher, Matt Campbell. Hitting-Fairland: Alex Thackston 2-4 RBI, Chad Fisher 1-4, Matt Campbell 2-3, Tyler Duty 1-3 2-RBI, Sowards 1-2, Javier Rowe 1-3; South Point: Steve McClure 1-3.
Fairland 10, River Valley 0
PEDRO — Thanks to their pitching, the Rock Hill Redmen are making a pitch at the Ohio Valley Conference title.
Devin Darby and Josh Malone combined on a 2-hitter as the Redmen blanked the River Valley Raiders 10-0 Wednesday in an OVC game.
Rock Hill is tied for first with Fairland at 4-1.
“Darby and Malone pitched well. Our pitching is going well right now,” said Redmen coach Barry Litteral.
Rock Hill (7-4) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Malone doubled, Drew Kidd sacrificed and Jonathan Schob hit a sacrifice fly.
Shane Russell was hit by a pitch, stole second base and scored on Matt
Jenkins’ base hit to start a 3-run second.
An outfield error sent Jenkins to second who took third on a passed ball and came home when Malone singled. Kidd beat out a base hit and Cody Massie followed with an RBI single.
The lead went to 5-0 in the third inning when Jeremy Blagg doubled, Darby beat out an infield hit, Russell reached on a fielder’s choice and the run scored on an error.
Rock Hill ended the game with a five-run sixth inning.
Massie singled, Blagg reached on a fielder’s choice and Darby had a base hit. Russell was safe on an error as Blagg scored and Jenkins hit a sacrifice fly.
Alex Bare got an infield hit and Malone reached on an error for another run. Kidd also reached on an error allowing Bare to score the final run.
“We’ve put the ball in play and when we put the ball in play we’re scoring runs,” said Litteral.
Malone, Darby and Massie were each 2-4.
Rock Hill visits Portsmouth Notre Dame Thursday.
River Valley 000 000 = 0 2 9
Rock Hill 131 005 = 10 10 2
Noble, Young (6) and Cody Smith. Josh Malone (1-H, 3-K), Devin Darby (3) and Cody Massie. W-Darby (1-H, 5-K). L-Noble. 2B-Rock Hill: Josh Malone, Jeremy Blagg. Hitting-RV: Smith 1-2, Goodrich 1-2; Rock Hill: Josh Malone 2-4, Drew Kidd 1-3, Cody Massie 2-4, Jeremy Blagg 1-3, Devin Darby 2-4, Matt Jenkins 1-2, Alex Bare 1-4.