Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — What a difference a day makes.

After committing seven errors on Tuesday, the Fairland Dragons had one error and some strong hitting and pitching as they beat the Coal Grove Hornets 8-3 Wednesday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“The top of their lineup hit the ball well,” said Hornets’ coach Dean Mader. “We hit the ball hard, we just can’t get anything to fall. They made some great plays defensively.”

Fairland (2-1, 2-0) got solid pitching from Matt Aliff who pitched a five-hitter, struck out seven and did not issue a walk.

Luke Phillips went 3-4 with two doubles to lead an 11-hit attack.

Kyle Sowards and Aliff singled and Josh Ross hit into a fielder’s choice as Fairland took 1-0 lead in the first inning.

The Dragons erupted for five runs in the second inning.

Alex Thompson singled, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on a hit by Dylan Murphy. Phillips doubled home a run, Garrett Scheibelhood reached on an error as a run scored, Sowards singled in a run and Aliff was safe on an error as the final run came home.

Coal Grove (0-2, 0-2) got a run in the fourth on hits by Conor Markins and Jacob Pierce and an error.

Both teams scored two runs in the seventh.

Evan Russell walked, Murphy was safe on an error and Phillips had a two-run double in the top of the inning.

Jesse Rigsby doubled, Alex bare singled and Isaiah Gunther singled for a run in Coal Grove’s half of the inning. Gunther stole second and Bare scored on the throw to second base.

Fairland 150 000 2 = 8 11 1

Coal Grove 000 100 2 = 3 5 4

Matt Aliff and Garrett Scheibelhood. Jesse Rigsby and Jacob Pierce. W-Aliff (K-7, BB-0). L-Rigsby (K-5, BB-2). 2B-Fairland: Luke Phillips 2; CG: Jesse Rigsby. Hitting-Fairland: Kyle Sowards 3-5, Dylan Murphy 1-3, Matt Aliff 2-5, Josh Ross 1-4, Alex Thompson 1-4, Luke Phillips 3-4; CG: Conor Markins 1-3, Jacob Pierce 1-3, Jesse Rigsby 1-3, Alex Bare 1-3, Isaiah Gunther 1-3.