Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

SOUTH POINT — So this is our home field.

Due to the weather and a series of postponements, the South Point Lady Pointers haven’t played a home game in three weeks.

The Lady Pointers finally got to play at home on Wednesday and celebrated with an 8-5 win over the Coal Grove Lady Hornets in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“It’s been a topsy-turvy year in the OVC for us,” said Lady Pointers’ coach Tanner Heaberlin. “Leaving runners stranded, errors and mental mistakes have been our Achilles heel. We played better tonight except for a couple of innings and made the plays we needed to win the game.”

The Lady Pointers (8-6, 4-5) collected eight hits led by Haley Rawlins who was 2-for-4 with a home run and a double and Abbey Winkler who went 2-2 with a double.

Abbey Hannah pitched a five-hitter and struck out three to pick up the win.

“Abbey Winkler and Haley Rawlins have had hot bats the last couple of weeks and continued that tonight. We also had a good pitching performance by Abbey Hannah who has matured as the year has went along, and pitched us out of a couple of big jams tonight,” said Heaberlin.

Coal Grove was led by Kasey Murphy who went 2-3 with a double and Gracie Riley who was 2-4.

“My hat is off to Coal Grove who has made vast improvements over the last two years. Coach (Mitch) Crum’s program is on the rise. They know how to hit and don’t give up.”

Coal Grove got a run in the top of the first when Lauren Meyers was hit by a pitch, moved up on a passed ball and Murphy’s base hit.

The Lady Pointers tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Winkler walked, Lexi Smith reached on an error and Rawlins’ sacrifice bunt.

The Lady Pointers took the lead with two runs in the second.

Leah Lawson reached on an error, Laken Adkins singled and Winkler doubled them home.

Rawlins cranked a home run to start the third inning and the Lady Pointers scored again in the inning when Halie Powell singled, Emilee Powell bunted for a hit and Adkins reached on an error.

Coal Grove scored a run in the top of the fifth on a walk to Meyers, two errors and a hit by Riley.

The Lady Pointers came back with two runs in the bottom of the inning to lead 8-2.

Coal Grove tried to rally with three runs in the sixth. Racheal Webb was hit by a pitch, Brooke Blakeman reached on an error, and singles by Meyers and Leah Crum.

South Point hosts Chesapeake on Friday.

Coal Grove 100 013 0 = 5 5 3

South Point 222 020 x = 8 8 3

Kasey Murphy and Gracie Riley. Abby Hannah and Emilee Powell. W-Hannah (K-3). L-Murphy (K-3). Hitting—CG: Lauren Meyers 1-3, Kasey Murphy 2-3 2B, Gracie Riley 2-4; SP: Abbey Winkler 2-2 2B, Haley Rawlins 2-4 HR 2B, Halie Powell 1-4, Emilee Powell 1-4, Leah Lawson 1-3 2B, Laken Adkins 1-3.