Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

SOUTH POINT — Things might have gone slow early, but the picked up for the South Point Pointers.
As for Travis Dillon, it was steady as she goes.
Dillon scattered seven hits, struck out seven, walked two and gave up just one earned run in going the distance and the South Point Pointers beat the Fairland Dragons 9-2 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Monday.
“Dillon pitched well. We hit the ball well collectively. Walls, Blackwell, McClure, Dillon and Henline all hit the ball well,” said Pointers’ coach Larry Goodwin.
“Early in the game we just could not get the key hit. We have to maintain our focus and energy all week as we have five more games this week.”
The Pointers had 14 hits with Dillon going 2-4 with a home run and three runs batted in. Brody Blackwell was 2-3, Jonathan Henline 2-3 and an RBI, Drake McClure 2-4 with a double and two RBI, and Ben Walls 2-4 and an RBI.
Eli Bowen went 2-4 and an RBI to pace the Fairland offense.
The Dragons took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
Jace Vonville walked, Reilly Sowards had a sacrifice bunt, Bowen singled and Darius Stapleton reached on an error.
The Pointers (5-0, 2-0) came back to take the lead for good with two runs in the bottom of the inning on a single by Blackwell and a home run by Dillon.
The lead went to 3-1 in the third when Blackwell singled, stole second and Henline singled.
South Point made it 5-1 in the fifth.
Dillon was safe on an error, McClure and Walls singled to load the bases and Drew Smith grounded out as two runs scored.
The Pointers put the game away with four runs in the sixth.
Blackwell, Dillon and Henline all singled for a run, McClure had a two-run double and Walls an RBI single.
The Dragons final run scored in the seventh as Bryan Defoe reached on an error, Vonville singled, Sowards walked and Bowen it into a double play.
The two teams will meet at Fairland on Wednesday.
Fairland    100    000    1    =    2    7    2
South Point    201    024    x    =    9    14    3
Garrett Looney, Tayten Hunt (6) and Eli Bowen. Travis Dillon and Drake McClure. W-Dillon (K-7, BB-2, ER-1). L-Looney (IP-5.2, H-13, R-9, ER-7, K-4, BB-3). Hunt (IP-0.1, H-1). Hitting-FHS: Jace Vonville 1-2, Eli Bowen 2-4 rbi, Darius Stapleton 1-3 rbi, Tucker Adkins 1-3, Kyle Rankin 1-3, Bryan Defoe 1-3; SP: Douglas Shaffer 1-4, Brody Blackwell 2-3, Travis Dillon 2-4 HR 3-rbi, Jonathan Henline 2-3 rbi, Drake McClure 2-4 2B 2-rbi, Ben Walls 2-4 rbi, Drew Smith 1-3 2-rbi, Brycen McCann 1-3, Dawson Runyon 1-2.