PROCTORVILLE – The early bird gets the word.

Sunday, May 07, 2000

PROCTORVILLE – The early bird gets the word. The early scorer gets the win.

The Fairland Dragons jumped out to a big early lead and then coasted to an 8-1 Ohio Valley Conference win Friday over the Coal Grove Hornets.

"It was real important for us to get on top early. Against a pitcher like (Jarred) Keaton, that’s important," Fairland coach Roger Snyder said.

Stuart Shepherd pitched a five-hitter for the Dragons, striking out eight and walking only one. He also went 3-for-4 at the plate.

"Stuart threw well. He pitches well when he gets ahead," said Snyder. "And we got some key hits and that was big."

Keaton suffered the loss despite allowing only one earned run.

"Jarred threw pretty well, we just didn’t make the plays and we gave them too many runs," Hornets coach John Jones said. "You can’t make six errors and expect to win."

Both teams came into the game needing a win to keep their OVC title hopes alive. South Point has finished its league schedule at 8-4, thus clinching at least a tie for the title.

Fairland is 13-5 , but 7-4 in the OVC and must win Monday at Coal Grove to gain a share of the title.

Coal Grove fell to 8-8 and 6-5 in the conference. A Coal Grove win Monday would give South Point the title outright and secure sole possession of third place.

Fairland also has a tournament game at Wheelersburg on Tuesday. Snyder said the OVC comes first.

"Monday’s the big game for us," said Snyder.

Fairland got the lead quickly with a run in the first when Ryan Boso, Kyle Leadmon, and Shepherd all singled.

Three more runs scored in the second to make it 4-0.

With one out, K. C. Jones walked and an out later Jeremy Louden walked. Leadmon reached on an error as the run scored, and then Toby Morrison and Shepherd then delivered RBI singles.

Four more runs scored in the fourth as the lead grew to 8-0.

Boso reached on an error and advanced to third on a pair of passed balls.

Leadmon, who was 2-4, singled with one out as a run scored, Morrison then singled, Shepherd reached on an error as Leadmon scored, and an out later Josh Dunfee walked to load the bases. Tim Adkins followed with a run-scoring single to cap the rally.

The Hornets got their run in the eighth.

Josh Keaton singled, Dave Webb hit into a fielder’s choice, Ryan Young singled, and Webb scored on a double steal.

Coal Grove 000 000 1 – 1 5 6

Fairland 130 400 x – 8 8 1

Jarred Keaton, Eric Tackett (5) and Dean Mader. Stuart Shepherd and Jarred Schneider, K. C. Jones (6). W-Shepherd (8-K, 1-W). L-Keaton (3-K, 4-W). Hitting-Coal Grove: Josh Collins 1-3, Dean Mader 1-3, Josh Keaton 1-1, David Webb 1-3, Ryan Young 1-2; Fairland: Ryan Boso 1-4, Kyle Leadmon 2-4, Toby Morrison 1-4, Stuart Shepherd 3-4, Tim Adkins 1-3.