Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

SOUTH POINT — It might not have been exactly what the South Point Pointers were expecting, but it turned out the way they had hoped.
The Pointers shrugged off a rusty offensive game due to a long layoff but still used the pitching of Brody Blackwell to help beat the Grace Christian Soldiers 9-1 on Tuesday.
Blackwell went 5.1 innings and did not allow a run. He struck out six, walked three and gave up just two hits as he got the win.
“Brody Blackwell pitched well. He was able to get the first batter out in five of six innings he started,” said Pointers’ coach Larry Goodwin.
“Offensively, we did not do as well as expected. We left nine runners on base. (Travis) Dillon hit the ball well by getting three hits. He goes to the plate each time and has an action plan for each count he encounters and executes.”
The Pointers scored a run in the first inning when Douglas Shaffer reach on an error, moved up on a pair of passed balls and scored on Brody Blackwell’s ground out.
South Point extended its lead to 3-0 in the second inning.
Brendon Dillon got a two-out single, stole second and scored on Shaffer’s base hit. Shaffer stole second and third and scored on a throwing error.
The Pointers opened up a 7-0 lead with four runs in the third.
Travis Dillon singled, Will Thacker walked and a pair of passed balls scored Dillon.
Drew Smith was hit by a pitch and Brycen McCann singled for a run. Brycen Dillon was hit by a pitch and Shaffer was safe on an error as a run scored.
Shaffer scored his third run of the game in the fifth when he walked, stole second and third and came home on a hit by Blackwell.
The Pointers got their final run in the sixth when Brad Walls and Smith walked and Dawson Runyon had an RBI ground out.
Grace Christian got its lone run in the seventh inning on a single by Nathaniel Porter, walks to Dylan Enyst and Luke Tanner and a hit by Bioden Workman.
The Pointers visit Gallipolis on Wednesday and host them on Friday.
Grace Christian    000    000    1    =    1    4    3
South Point          124    011    x    =    9    8    0
Elijah Spurlock, Dylan Enyast and Dylan Enyast, Alex Childer (4). Brody Blackwell, Drew Smith (6), Travis Dillon (7) and Drake McClure. W-Blackwell (IP-5.1, H-2, R-0, K-6, BB-3). Smith (IP-1.0, H-2, R-1, ER-1, K-1, BB-2). Dillon (IP-0.2). L-Spurlock (IP-3.0, H-5, R-7, ER_3, K-1, BB-3). Enyast (IP-3.0, H-3, R-2, ER-2, K-3, BB-4). Hitting-GC: Nathaniel Porter 1-2, Dylan Enyast 1-2, Luke Tanner 1-2, Bioden Workman 1-2; SP: Douglas Shaffer 1-3 rbi, Brody Blackwell 1-4 rbi-2, Travis Dillon 3-4, Wyatt Thacker 1-1, Brycen McCann 1-3 rbi-2, Dawson Runyon rbi, Brendon Dillon 1-2.