Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

Drew Smith must like the leadoff spot.
Moved into the first spot in the batting order for the first time, Smith went 4-for-5 with a double and two runs batted in as the South Point Pointers beat the Ironton Fighting Tigers 8-0 on Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.
Smith led the Pointers’ offense that had 11 hits. Brody Blackwell was 3-4 with three RBI.
Ironton (4-10) had five hits as Gage Salyers was 2-3 while Brycen Thomas, Tanner Bowles and Cameron Deere all went 1-3.
South Point got a run in the first inning when Smith singled, stole second and third and scored on a hit by Blackwell.
The lead went to 3-0 in the second inning on walks to Drake McClure and Brycen McCann and a two-run double by Smith.
A run scored in the fourth when Jonathon Henline walked, McClure had a sacrifice and Logan Rose had an RBI single.
The Pointers got three runs in the fifth to lead 7-0.
Smith singled, stole second, took third on an error and scored on a hit by Blackwell. Travis Dillon and Henline singled and Ben Walls grounded out to drive in a run.
The final run scored in the sixth when Rose walked, McCann was safe on an error and Smith singled.
The two teams meet at South Point on Monday.
South Point 120 131 0 = 8 11 2
Ironton 000 000 0 = 0 5 3
Douglas Shaffer and Drake McClure. Gage Salyers, Brycen Thomas (5) and Collin Freeman, Cameron Deere (4). W-Shaffer (K-8, BB-0). L-Salyers (IP-4.0, H-4, R-4, ER-4, K-2, BB-3). Thomas (IP-3.0, H-7, R-4, ER-3, K-2, BB-1). Hitting-SP: Drew Smith 4-5 2B 2-rbi, Brody Blackwell 3-4 3-rbi, Travis Dillon 1-4, Jonathon Henline 1-3, Ben Walls rbi, Logan Rose 1-2 rbi; Ironton: Gage Salyers 2-3, Brycen Thomas 1-3, Tanner Bowles 1-3, Cameron Deere 1-3.