Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

COAL GROVE — Fairland Dragons’ coach Alex Beelen couldn’t find anything to complain about.

Hayden James threw a one-hitter and the Dragons made just one error as they blanked the Coal Grove Hornets 5-0 on Monday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

James struck out four and walked five in going the distance.

“I was very pleased with our team. Other than that error we played a pretty flawless game and Hayden threw really well,” said Beelen.

Fairland (3-5, 2-2) took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Tyler George reached on an error and Collin Damron belted a two-run homer.

The Dragons scored twice in the fifth on just one hit.

Trace Adkins was hit by a pitch, stole second, went to third on George’s bunt single and then George stole second. A passed ball scored a run and Dairus Stapleton’s ground out scored George.

The final run scored in the sixth when Eli Bowen walked, Austin Christian and James were hit by pitches and Adkins singled.

Coal Grove (2-4, 0-4) got its only hit in the first inning on a two-out single by Daniel Rutherford.

“That was the best game we’ve played defensively,” said Hornets’ coach Dean Mader. “We just didn’t hit the ball.”

George went 2-4 with a double as Fairland managed seven hits.

In league games Wednesday, Fairland hosts Chesapeake and Coal Grove entertains South Point.

Fairland 200 021 0 = 5 7 1

Coal Grove 000 000 0 = 0 1 1

Hayden James and Eli Bowen. Chase McKnight and Jeb Jones. W—James (K-4, BB-5). L-McKnight (K-4, BB-1, HBP-3). Hitting-FHS: Trace Adkins 1-3, Tyler George 2-4 2B, Collin Damron 1-4 HR rbi-2, Seth Clay 1-4 2B, Eli Bowen 1-2, Austin Christian 1-2; CG: Daniel Rutherford 1-3.