Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

SOUTH POINT — If this were a chess match, Brody Blackwell finally got to say “checkmate.”
The South Point Pointers’ sophomore pitcher locked up in a pitcher’s duel with Coal Grove Hornets’ junior Nate Harmon on Wednesday.
Blackwell and the Pointers were able to get a couple of runs as they beat the Hornets 2-0 in an Ohio Valley Conference game.
Blackwell pitched a three-hitter, stuck out five and walked four. He threw only 86 pitches — 57 for strikes.
“Brody Blackwell pitched a good ball game,” said Pointers’ coach Larry Goodwin.
“He was able to get 21 first-pitch strikes on the batters he faced and he was able to complete the game on 86 efficient pitches.”
Harmon gave up just six hits, struck out four and walked four. He threw 90 pitches in six innings.
South Point scored the only two runs of the game in the third inning.
Dawson Runyon led off with a base hit, Jonathon Henline drew a one-out walk and both runners moved up on Blackwell’s ground out.
Douglas Shaffer followed with a two-out single to drive in both runners.
Coal Grove did threaten in the third when Jordan Case walked, Sam Angelo singled and Jeb Jones walked to load the bases with one out.
But a force out at home and a strikeout ended the threat.
Coal Grove 000 000 0 = 0 3 0
South Point 002 000 x = 2 6 0
Nate Harmon and Jeb Jones. Brody Blackwell and Drake McClure. W-Blackwell (K-5, BB-4). L-Harmon (K4, BB-4, ER-2). Hitting: CG: Sam Angelo 1-4, Nate Harmon 1-3, Cory Borders 1-3; SP: Drew Smith 1-3, Jonathon Henline 1-2, Douglas Shaffer 1-2 2-rbi, Ben Walls 1-3, Drake McClure 1-3, Dawson Runyon 1-2.