By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

 

COAL GROVE — Josh Ross got a look at the game from the other side and he liked the view.

The Dragons’ regular catcher turned pitcher on Friday and tossed a seven-hitter as Fairland posted a five-inning 15-3 Ohio Valley Conference win over the Coal Grove Hornets.

Ross struck out four and walked one in going the distance.

Fairland had 10 hits with Eric Riley going 3-4 with three runs batted in. Matt Aliff and Corey Burcham each went 2-3 with two RBI – Burcham had two doubles – and Kyle Raines was 1-3 but had four RBI.

Jessie Rigsby was 2-2 with a double and Jake Jewell 2-2 with an RBI for the Hornets who were guilty of seven errors.

The Dragons scored six runs in the first inning.

Riley singled, Barker walked and Alex Thackston was hit by a pitch. Raines doubled to clear the bases and Aliff doubled him home. Alec Warner reached on an error for a run and Blaine Fuller singled in a run.

Coal Grove got two runs in the second when Garrett Myers walked, Rigsby singled and Jewell and Austin Gumbert had RBI singles.

Fairland blew the game open with a two-out, seven-run rally in the third thanks to four errors.

Barker walked, Raines was safe on an error and Ross reached on a missed third strike. Aliff was safe on an error, Burcham doubled, Fuller and Ross were safe on errors and Aliff singled in a run.

The Hornets got a run in the bottom of the inning. Cody Pennington singled, moved up on an error, Jordan Beals had a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch scored the run.

Fairland capped the scoring with two runs in the fourth when Burcham doubled, Fuller reached on an error, Riley singled in a run and Raines drew a bases loaded walk.

Fairland (10-5, 5-2) hosts River Valley on Monday and visits Rock Hill on Wednesday in a key OVC game. Coal Grove hosts Rock Hill on Monday.

Fairland 607 20 = 15 10 1

Coal Grove 021 00 = 3 7 6

Josh Ross and Jarrett Scheibelhood. Jacob Pierce, Garrett Myers, Jonathan Joseph (4) and Jake Jewell. W-Ross (K-4, BB-1). L-Pierce. 2B-Fairland: Kyle Raines, Matt Aliff, Corey Burcham 2; CG: Jessie Rigsby. Hitting-Fairland: Eric Riley 3-4 3-rbi, Corey Barker 3-bb, Alex Thackston 1-2, Kyle Raines 1-3 4-rbi, Matt Aliff 2-3 2-rbi, Corey Burcham 2-3 rbi, Blaine Fuller 1-3 rbi; CG: Cody Pennington 1-3, Garrett Myers 1-1, Jessie Rigsby 2-2, Jake Jewell 2-2 rbi, Austin Gumbert 1-2 rbi.