McDERMOTT — A fourth inning touchdown and conversion kick helped the South Point Pointers.

Wednesday, April 07, 1999

McDERMOTT — A fourth inning touchdown and conversion kick helped the South Point Pointers. Oops. This is baseball, not football.

Although the score looked like a football game, the Pointers survived six errors, five walks, and five hit batsmen as they outscored the Northwest Mohawks 16-13 in six innings Tuesday.

"The errors played a big part, and our pitchers’ control hurt us," said Pointers coach Chad Belville. "We had two innings that killed us, but again our offense was able to carry us."

The offense had 15 hits as Shawn Blake went 4-5 with three runs batted in, James Ermalovich 4-5 and three RBI, Patrick Pannell and Nate Nester 2-4, and Robbie Lozier 1-2 with a home run and three intentional walks.

South Point, 4-0, got three runs in the first when Brian Stephens and Blake singled and Lozier cranked a long three-run home run.

In the second, Blake singled, moved up on a passed ball, took third on a balk, Lozier was walked, and Ermalovich singled in Blake for a 4-0 lead.

Northwest then answered with five runs in the bottom of the inning to go ahead 5-4.

The lead was short lived as the Pointers scored three times in the third to lead 7-5.

Pannell singled, Aaron Murray was safe on an error and stole second, and Nester singled in both runners.

The Pointers erupted for seven runs in the fourth inning to take what appeared to be a commanding 14-5 lead.

Josh Morrison was safe on an error and Josh Leighty was the pinch-runner. On a fake bunt attempt, Leighty broke for second and the ball sailed into center allowing Leighty to score.

Jared Perdue, Pannell and Nester singled for a run, Stephens walked to load the bases, and Blake doubled home two. Lozier was walked and Ermalovich doubled in three runs.

But Northwest scored eight times in the bottom of the inning on a hit batsman, a walk, an error, two more hit batsmen, a walk forcing in a run, another error on a potential double play ball that scored three runs, and a third error scored the final run.

"We gave them all their runs. We definitely gave them a lot," said Belville.

Pannell was hit by a pitch, stole second, took third on a passed ball, Murray walked and stole second, and a passed ball scored a run. After Nester walked, Blake had an RBI single.

Stephens came on to pitch two shutout innings and notched the save.

"Brian Stephens was a bright spot. He came in and threw the ball well, challenged hitters, and did a nice job," said Belville.

The Pointers host Ironton Thursday.

South Point 313 720 – 16 15 6

Northwest 050 800 – 13 5 5

Nate Nester, Shawn Blake (4), Stephens (5) and Robbie Lozier. Morris, Secrest (2), Stiverson (5) and Backman. W-Blake. L-Secrest. Save-Stephens. 2B-South Point: Shawn Blake, James Ermalovich. HR-South Point: Robbie Lozier. Hitting-South Point: Shawn Blake 4-5 (3 RBI), Robbie Lozier 1-2 (3 RBI), James Ermalovich 4-5 (3 RBI), Patrick Pannell 2-4, Nate Nester 2-4: Northwest: Detwiller 2-3.