Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PROCTORVILLE — Gavin Hunt threw well. Brody Blackwell threw a little better.
In a classic pitcher’s duel, Blackwell pitched the South Point Pointers to a 2-1 Ohio Valley Conference win over the Fairland Dragons on Wednesday.
Blackwell pitched a four-hitter as he struck out 12 and walked three. The run was earned.
“Brody Blackwell pitched a great game for us. We could not get anything going offensively,” said Pointers’ coach Larry Goodwin.
“It was a great game defensively. They are a young and well-coached baseball team.”
Gavin Hunt pitched well in the loss. Hunt gave up only five hits, walked just one and the two runs were earned.
“Another pitcher’s duel. We couldn’t get the key hit when we needed it,” said Fairland coach Alex Beelen.
“Both pitchers threw well. They just got one more run than we did. Reilly (Sowards) played extremely well in the field and showcased his arm and glove.”
The Pointers (7-0, 4-0) snapped a scoreless tie with a run in the top of the third.
Drew Smith walked to lead off the inning, stole second and went to third on an error. Brycen McCann then hit a sacrifice fly.
South Point scored what proved to be the winning run in the top of the fourth.
Jonathan Henline singled, stole second, went to third on an error and scored on a one-out single by Ben Walls.
Fairland got its run in the bottom of the fourth when Darius Stapleton singled and went to second on an error, Garrett Looney put down a sacrifice bunt and Tucker Adkins delivered an RBI double.
South Point plays at Gallipolis on Thursday. Fairland hosts Ironton on Friday.
South Point    001    100    0    =    2    5    2
Fairland    000    100    0    =    1    4    3
Brody Blackwell and Drake McClure. Gavin Hunt and Eli Bowen. W-Blackwell (K-12, BB-3, ER-0). L-Hunt (BB-1, ER-2). Hitting-SP: Douglas Shaffer 1-3, Brody Blackwell 1-3, Jonathan Henline 1-3, Ben Walls 1-3 rbi, Brycen McCann rbi, Dawson Runyon 1-2; FHS: Jace Vonville 1-3, Darius Stapleton 1-3, Tucker Adkins 1-2 rbi 2B, Gavin Hunt 1-3.