Dragons shutout Trojans 10-0 in sectional
Published 11:10 pm Saturday, May 15, 2010
PROCTORVILLE — The Fairland Dragons have great timing.
The Dragons picked the right time to play their best game as Alex Thackston fired a one-hitter and Fairland beat the Portsmouth Trojans 10-0 in six innings Saturday to win the Div. III sectional tournament.
“That was the most complete game we’ve played all year,” said Fairland coach Bryan Ward.
“We were very patient. We hit the ball pretty well. That’s the best hitting game we’ve had against a good pitcher. We made the plays defensively, we ran the bases well and we got great pitching.”
Thackston struck out 12 and did not walk a batter in shutting down the Trojans.
“Alex was on. He was popping the ball,” said Ward.
Fairland got on the scoreboard quickly with two runs in the first inning.
Thackston walked, Chad Fisher reached on an error and Matt Campbell singled in a run. Tyler Duty followed with an RBI double.
The Dragons added a run in the second when Jon Baise singled, stole second, moved up on a ground out and scored on Fisher’s double.
The lead went to 6-0 in the fourth inning.
Tanner Sowards singled and Javier Roe put down a sacrifice bunt. But Portsmouth pitcher Josh Myers threw the ball away to put runners at second and third.
Jon Baise and Thackston each grounded out to drive in runs and it was 5-0.
Fisher was then safe on an error, Campbell and Eric Riley both walked and a passed ball scored Fisher.
Fairland ended the game early with four runs in the sixth.
Baise doubled to start the inning. Thackston walked and Baise stole third base with Thackston going to second. Campbell had an RBI single, Riley was hit by a pitch and Duty reached on a fielder’s choice as a Thackston scored.
Brandon Begil then singled home Riley and Sowards ended the game with an RBI single to score Duty.
Fairland (16-4) plays Adena at Chillicothe’s Paint Stadium at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Portsmouth 000 000 = 0 1 4
Fairland 210 304 = 10 9 0
Josh Myers and Brennan Howard. Alex Thackston and Matt Campbell. W-Thackston (12-K, 0-BB). L-Myers (6-K 5-BB). 2B-Fairland: Jon Baise, Chad Fisher, Tyler Duty. Hitting-Portsmouth: Adam Bray 1-2; Fairland: Jon Baise 2-3 rbi, Chad Fisher 1-4 rbi, Matt Campbell 2-3 2-rbi, Tyler Duty 1-4 2-rbi, Brandon Begil 1-4 rbi, Tanner Sowards 2-4 rbi.