Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

SOUTH POINT — Landon Smith must be ecologically aware.
Smith didn’t waste his pitches on Friday as he threw a four-hitter and the Rock Hill Redmen beat the South Point Pointers 11-1 in a six-inning Ohio Valley Conference game.
Smith needed just 72 pitches for the complete game win. He threw 58 pitches for strikes.
“That’s pretty efficient. He pitched really well,” said Rock Hill coach Barry Litteral.
“He used his defense and we played good defense behind him. He got a strikeout when he needed it.”
Smith struck out seven and the only walk he allowed was intentional.
Jake Blagg went 3-4 with a double, Seth Nichols 3-5 with a double and two runs batted in, Jordan Griffith 2-4 and Kaleb Kidd 2-3 with three RBI as Rock Hill got 14 hits.
Drake McClure was 2-3 to pace the Pointers (6-5, 3-3).
The Redmen (9-3, 5-1) broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the third.
Nichols singled, Logan Hankins reached on an error and Kidd and an RBI single. Smith got a one-out RBI single.
The Pointers scored their run in the bottom of the inning when Brody Blackwell singled and McClure had a two-out double.
Rock Hill got the run back in the fourth when Blagg doubled and scored on a Hankins’ grounded out.
The Redmen blew the game open with six runs in the fifth.
Kadin France walked, Griffith singled and Brayden Friend and Blagg followed with RBI singles. Nichols doubled to drive in two runs.
Hankins singled and then Kidd had a two-run single to cap the rally.
Rock Hill’s final two runs scored in the sixth to end the game early.
Smith walked, moved up on a ground out and scored when Griffith reached on an error. Griffith scored on a wild pitch.
Rock Hill 002 162 = 11 14 0
South Point 001 000 = 1 4 2
Landon Smith and Kaleb Kidd. Drew Smith, Dawson Runyon (5) and Drake McClure. W-Smith (K-7, IBB-1, ER-1). L-Smith (IP-4.2, H-14, R-9, ER-9, K-4, BB-2). Runyon (IP-1.1, R-2, ER-0, BB-2). Hitting-RH: Jake Blagg 3-4 2B rbi, Seth Nichols 3-5 2B 2-rbi, Logan Hankins 1-4 rbi, Kaleb Kidd 2-3 3-rbi, Landon Smith 1-3 rbi, Nick Blankenship 1-4, Jordan Griffith 2-4, Brayden Friend 1-4 rbi; SP: Brody Blackwell 1-3, Drake McClure 2-3 2B rbi, Ben Walls 1-2.