Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PEDRO — They’re getting closer.

South Point clinched at least a share of the Ohio Valley Conference baseball title as the Pointers outlasted the Rock Hill Redmen 4-3 in nine innings Friday.

South Point (13-2, 7-0) is the only team without a league loss and can win the title outright with another win. Rock Hill fell to 9-5 and 4-3 in the OVC.

Brandon Boggs pitched a four-hitter for the complete game win. He struck out seven, walked one and hit a batter.

Jonathan Joseph went the distance in a losing effort. He gave up seven hits, struck out six and walked two.

“It was as good a ball game as you’ll see. To play nine innings in two and a half hours tells you something about the game,” said Rock Hill coach Barry Litteral.

“It was a well-played ball game by both teams. They got the key hit when they needed. We had to manufacture some runs. Both pitchers threw extremely well.”

The winning run scored when Chris Woodard walked, moved up on a wild pitch and Tyler Branch had a two-out double.

The Pointers scored first with a run in the first inning when Trey Kearns, Alex White and Boggs all singled.

The lead went to 3-0 in the fifth.

Branch doubled, Christian Pritchard walked, and — after a double steal — Beau Taylor had a two-run single.

Rock Hill tied the game with three runs in the sixth.

With one out, Aaron Dalton reached on an error, Jonah Cox was hit by a pitch, Jack Goodwin walked and Joseph had a two-run single.

Jordan Hairston hit into a fielder’s choice and a throwing error on the play allowed Goodwin to score.

Branch was 2-4 for the Pointers and Joseph was 2-4 for Rock Hill.

South Point 100 020 001 = 4 7 4

Rock Hill 000 003 000 = 3 4 0

Brandon Boggs and Christian Pritchard. Jonathan Joseph and Jordan Hairston. W-Boggs (K-7, BB-1, HBP-1. L-Joseph (K-6, BB-2). Hitting-SP: Trey Kearns 1-4, Alex Whitt 1-4, Brandon Boggs 1-4 rbi, Patrick Jones 1-4, Tyler Branch 2-4, Beau Taylor 1-3 rbi-2; RH: Jonathan Joseph 2-4, Corey Noel 1-4, Brandon Schob 1-4. 2B-SP: Tyler Branch 2.