Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PEDRO — There is the power of prayer and the power of love. The Fairland Dragons used the power of power to get a win.
Kyle Rankin hit a two-run homer and Garrett Looney a game-winning solo shot as the Fairland Dragons edged the Rock Hill Redmen 3-2 in an Ohio Valley Conference showdown on Friday.
Fairland is 12-3 overall and 8-0 in the OVC. Rock Hill is now 11-4 and 7-2 in the lead.
“We hit the ball, but right at someone. And give them credit. We hit some shots and they made the play,” said Rock Hill coach Barry Litteral.
“We couldn’t have played a better game. But that’s what a championship game is. It’s a close game.”
Fairland’s Reilly Sowards and Rock Hill’s Logan Hankins were locked in a scoreless pitching duel through five innings.
Dacoda Chapman singled and Rankin hit a two-out, two-run homer in the top of the sixth.
But Rock Hill came back with a run in the bottom of the inning.
Jake Blagg singled, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out single by Kaleb Kidd.
Looney hit his solo shot in the top leading off the top of the seventh for a 3-1 lead.
Rock Hill wouldn’t quit and came back with a run in the bottom of the inning.
Smith singled, stole second, moved to third on a ground out and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jordan Griffith.
Sowards struck out four, walked one and only one run was earned as the Dragons won their 12th straight.
Hankins struck out 12 and walked three in going the distance. All three runs were earned.
Both pitchers allowed only four hits. All of Rock Hill’s hits were singles.
“Both pitchers were on and it was a well-played ball game. They just came up with one more run than we did. We didn’t get the key hit when we needed it,” said Litteral.
Fairland 000 002 1 = 3 4 2
Rock Hill 000 001 1 = 2 4 0
Reilly Sowards and Bryan Defoe. Logan Hankins and Kaleb Kidd. W-Sowards (K-4, BB-1, ER-1). L-Hankins (K-12, BB-3, ER-3). Hitting-FHS: Dacoda Chapman 1-3, Kyle Rankin 1-3 HR 2-rbi, Reilly Sowards 1-3, Garrett Looney 1-1 HR rbi; RH: Jake Blagg 1-2, Logan Hankins 1-3, Kaleb Kidd 1-2 rbi, Landon Smith 1-2.