By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

COAL GROVE — The Fairland Dragons didn’t waste any time.

The Dragons jumped out to an early 5-0 lead and went on to beat the Coal Grove Hornets 10-4 Thursday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“They got four runs early that hurt, but Jared Eldridge came in and did a good job. Fairland had another inning they scored four but they had a bunch of bloop hits,” said Hornets’ coach Dean Mader.

But the Hornets’ coach said the Dragons were the better team.

“(Kyle) Raines threw well and Fairland has a good ball club. They play a tough schedule and their record is not indicative of how good they are,” said Mader.

Raines went five innings to get the win for Fairland (9-7, 5-1). He struck out four, walked two and hit a batter.

Fairland had 14 hits with 10 different players getting hits. Jonathan Holbrook went 3-3, Alex Thackston 2-2 and Raines 2-3.

Jake Murphy continued his torrid hitting as he went 3-3 with a double.

Fairland got four runs in the first inning when Jon Baise reached on an error, Thackston walked and Josh Ross singled them home. Raines doubled in a run and Holbrook singled home Raines.

A run scored in the second on a hit by Thackston after Alec Warner walked.

Coal Grove scored a run in the third when Jordan Beals was hit by a pitch and came home on a hit by Murphy.

The Dragons got four more in the fourth.

Warner and Riley singled and Thackston doubled for a run. Ross walked and Raines had a two-run single. Corey Barker singled in the final run.

The Hornets got a run back in the bottom of the inning when Mason Nance walked and scored on a hit by Levi Morris.

Coal Grove got two runs scored in the fifth to make it 9-4.

Cody Pennington was safe on an error, Murphy doubled and Jared Eldridge grounded out. Conor Markins doubled home Murphy.

The final Fairland run scored in the seventh. Joey Mundy singled and came around on a hit by Evan Russell.

On Friday, Fairland plays at South Point and Coal Grove (2-9, 0-7) visits Chesapeake Friday.

Fairland 410 400 1 = 10 14 0

Coal Grove 001 120 0 = 4 7 1

Kyle Raines, Cody Midkiff (6), Matt Aliff (7) and Matt Campbell, Jonathan Holbrook (5). Conor Markins, Jared Eldridge (2) and Jake Murphy. W-Raines (K-4, BB-2, HBP-1). L-Markins. 2B-Fairland: Alex Thackston, Kyle Raines; Coal Grove: Jake Murphy, Conor Markins. Hitting-Fairland: Alec Warner 1-2, Joey Mundy 1-2, Eric Riley 1-3, Alex Thackston 2-2, Evan Russell 1-2, Josh Ross 1-2, Kyle Raines 2-3, Jonathan Holbrook 3-3, Corey Barker 1-2, Travis Hoke 1-3; Coal Grove: Cody Gool 1-4, Jake Murphy 3-3, Conor Markins 1-4, Levi Morris 1-2, Bryan Jenkins 1-1.