Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

SOUTH POINT — They’re getting closer.

The Rock Hill Redmen moved a step closer to a third straight Ohio Valley Conference baseball title with an 8-2 win over the South Point Pointers on Thursday.

Rock Hill is now 10-3 overall and 8-1 in the league. The Redmen need a win or a Fairland loss to win the title.

Fairland is 5-1 in the league and the two teams will meet on May 6 in a make-up after being rained out on Wednesday.

South Point fell to 9-5 and 3-4 in the OVC.

“We played hard and we bounced back from the Coal Grove loss,” said Redmen coach Barry Litteral.

“We hit the ball extremely well tonight. Jonathan (Joseph) threw the ball well and we played pretty good defense and that’s what wins.”

Joseph struck out nine, walked five and allowed only four hits.

Austin Kidd went 3-3 to lead a 14-hit attack that saw the Redmen hit four doubles. Evan Morris and Laden Delawder were 2-4 while Jonah Cox and Evan Morris were 2-5.

Rock Hill went in front 2-0 in the first inning.

Delawder walk stole second, passed ball and Joseph and Morris had RBI doubles.

The Pointers got within 2-1 in the second when Austin Majher singled, moved up on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Luke Kelley’s base hit.

Rock Hill got the run back in the third when Delawder walked, stole second and Jack Goodwin doubled him home.

The Redmen made it 6-1 in the top of the fourth.

Jordan Hairston and Kidd singled to put runners on the corners. Drew McClaskey grounded out as a run scored and Cox had an RBI single. Cox stole second and Joseph had an RBI single.

The Pointers’ run in the bottom of the inning came when Trey Kearns walked, stole second and third and scored on a passed ball.

Rock Hill got two runs in the fifth with two outs, Kidd singled, McClaskey walked and Cox had a two-run double.

The final run scored in the sixth when Morris singled, moved up on an error, stole third and scored on Aaron Dalton’s ground out.

Rock Hill 201 321 0 = 8 14 2

South Point 010 100 0 = 2 4 4

Joseph and Austin Kidd. Alex Whitt and Austin Majher. W-Joseph (K-9, BB-5, ER-2). L-Whitt (K-3, BB-2, HBP-1). 2B-RH: Jonah Cox, Jack Goodwin, Jonathan Joseph, Evan Morris. Hitting-RH: Jonah Cox 2-5, Laden Delawder 2-4, Jack Goodwin 1-4, Jonathan Joseph 2-5, Evan Morris 2-4, Jordan Hairston 2-4, Austin Kidd 3-3; SP: Alex Whitt 1-4, Austin Majher 1-3, Luke Kelley1-3, Patrick Jones 1-1.