By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

PROCTORVILLE — Practice makes perfect, but playing games is the real fun.

While heavy rains washed out a lot of games on Thursday, the Fairland Dragons were able to play and they beat the Portsmouth Trojans 11-4.

Alex Thackston and Matt Aliff hit home runs to back the pitching of Josh Ross as the Dragons improved to 12-6.

“It was senior night so we got the field ready and they got excited. They really didn’t want to practice in the gym,” said Fairland coach Bryan Ward.

Ross allowed three hits, struck out five and walked eight in five innings. Thackston finished up and had five strikeouts.

Fairland took a 4-0 lead with two runs in each of the first two innings.

Eric Riley singled, Alec Warner walked and Thackston hit into a fielder’s choice for the first run. Thackston moved up on a ground out and scored on Ross’ base hit.

In the second, Aliff reached on an error but was forced out by Corey Barker who stole second and scored on a double by Blaine Fuller. Riley was safe on an error as a run scored.

Portsmouth got a run in the third but Fairland answered with three n the fourth.

Barker was safe on an error, Corey Burcham put down a sacrifice bunt and Fuller reached on a fielder’s choice as Barker scored. Fuller stole second and Riley and Thackston followed with RBI singles.

Aliff hit a solo home run in the fifth and Thackston homered in the sixth after Fuller singled and Riley walked.

Riley, Fuller and Thackston were all 2-3 as Fairland had eight hits.

The Dragons visit Chesapeake on Friday.

Portsmouth 001 020 1 = 4 4 5

Fairland 220 313 x = 11 8 0

Brandon Wedebrook, Len Collins (6) and Tanner Poage. Josh Ross, Alex Thackston (6) and Jarrett Scheibelhood. W-Ross (K-5, BB-8, H-3). Thackston K-5, H-1. L-Wedebrook. 2B-Portsmouth: Jacob Albrecht. HR-Fairland: Alex Thackston, Matt Aliff. Hitting-Portsmouth: Brandon Wedebrook 2-4, Jacob Albrecht 1-4, Hunter Gibson 1-4; Fairland: Eric Riley 2-3, Alex Thackston 2-3, Josh Ross 1-3, Matt Aliff 1-3, Blaine Fuller 2-3.