By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

PROCTORVILLE — Alex Thackston did the work and put his teammates on cruise control.

Thackston pitched a three-hitter and struck out 15 with no walks as the Fairland Dragons blanked the Ironton Fighting Tigers 6-0 on Friday.

“We didn’t hit very well, but with Thackston on the mound you don’t have to get a lot of hits,” said Fairland coach Bryan Ward.

Derek Battise took the loss. He struck out two, walked three and gave up seven hits.

Battise went 1-3 at the plate while Brandon Leach and Trevor Easterling were 1-2 for Ironton (6-5).

“Battise didn’t do a bad job, we just didn’t field the ball,” said Ironton coach Tobey Schreck.

“We’ve faced the two best pitchers in the area the last two days.”

The game was scoreless until the fourth when Evan Russell doubled and Matt Aliff singled.

Fairland (8-3) scored three times in the fifth on a single by Eric Riley, a walk to Corey Barker, RBI singles by Thackston and Kyle Raines and Russell’s sacrifice fly.

The Dragons got their final two runs in the sixth without the aid of a hit.

Alec Warner reached on an error and Brandon Burcham was hit by a pitch.

Riley sacrificed the runners and Thackston reached on an error as the runners scored.

Riley went 2-4 for Fairland.

Ironton 000 000 0 = 0 3 3

Fairland 000 132 x = 6 7 0

Derek Battise, Nick Culbertson (6) and Steve Easterling. Alex Thackston and Josh Ross. W-Thackston (K-15, BB-0). L-Battise (IP-5, K-2, BB-3). Culbertson IP-1, K-1, BB-0, HBP-2. ER-0. 2B-Fairland: Evan Russell. Hitting-Ironton: Derek Battise 1-3, Brandon Leach 1-2, Trevor Easterling 1-2; Fairland: Eric Riley 2-4, Alex Thackston 1-4, Josh Ross 1-3 rbi, Blaine Fuller 1-2, Evan Russell 1-3 rbi, Matt Aliff 1-3 rbi.