South Point – Isn’t it just like a dog to scratch and claw.

Friday, May 12, 2000

South Point – Isn’t it just like a dog to scratch and claw. The South Point Pointers lived up to their nickname Tuesday as they rallied to beat the Jackson Ironmen in the Division II sectional tournament championship game.

South Point trailed 6-0 early and 7-6 with two outs in the seventh inning when Justin Eaches came through with a clutch two-run double to win the game.

"We didn’t play very well the first four innings, they just kept fighting and scratching and clawing until they got back in the game," Pointers coach Bob Lester said.

South Point (16-7) will play Logan Elm at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the district semifinals at Chillicothe.

The game was all Jackson for three and one-half innings.

The Ironmen scored twice in each of the first two innings.

In the first, Kyle Stacy walked and went to third when Mike Holdren singled. Holdren stole second and a throwing error on the play allowed Stacy to score. Justin Skaggs two-out single scored Holdren.

Zach Haller walked to start the second for Jackson. He stole second, took third on a passed ball, and scored on a squeeze bunt by Ty Hoover.

Stacy then walked against, stole second and third, and scored on Holden’s base hit.

The lead went to 5-0 in the top of the third when Ryan Skeens singled, stole second, went to third on a ground out, and scored on a hit by James Bachtel.

The Ironmen added another run in the top of the fourth.

Stacy singled, stole second, went to third on a ground out, and scored on a throwing error.

South Point began showing signs of life with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Patrick Panell drew a two-out walked and Jarred Perdue hit a long home run to left.

Jackson failed to score in the fifth and the Pointers took advantage with four runs in their half of the inning to tie the game.

Brian Cremeans walked, Jared Waggoner was hit by a pitch, and B. J. Belville had a two-run double.

Belville went to third on a wild pitch but had to hold when Jamie Douglas reached on an error at first. Douglas stole second and another wild pitch scored Belville.

Shane Holsinger put down a perfect squeeze bunt to score the tying run.

"We always have a big inning," said Lester. "And I believe in the squeeze bunt, and our kids do, too."

Jackson went in front with a run in the sixth.

With one out, Stacy singled, went to third on an errant pickoff throw by Panell, and scored when Holdren walked and a throwing error allowed the run to score.

The Pointers winning rally began when Jamie Douglas singled to center to start the seventh. Holsinger reached on a fielder’s choice as Douglas was erased.

Josh Morrison was safe on a fielder’s choice as Holdren, Jackson’s second baseman, dropped the ball attempting what appeared to be an easy double play. With the new life, Perdue followed with a base hit that send pinch-runner Josh Hunter to third. Eaches then lined a two-run double to right-center.

Panell picked up the win after coming on in the second inning when starter Brian Cremeans came up lame and couldn’t continue.

Panell struck out two, walked three, gave up six hits, and only one of the three runs he allowed was earned.

"Panell came in and did a great job for us. Waggoner had a bad back and couldn’t go, so we needed a big game from him," said Lester.

Holdren took the loss in relief.

Perdue was 2-3 with a home run and two runs batted it.

Jackson, 10-12, was led by Stacy and Holdren who were 2-2, and Skaggs and Bachtel 2-4 each with an RBI.

Jackson 221 101 0 – 7 9 1

South Point 000 240 2 – 8 9 4

Ty Hoover, Mike Holdren (5) and Justin Skaggs. Brian Cremeans, Patrick Panell (2) and Nick Clay. W-Panell (2-K, 3-W, 6-H, 1-ER). L-Holdren (1-K, 1-W, 4-H, 2-ER). WP-Holdren 3, Panell 1. HBP-by Hoover (Jared Waggoner). PB-Nick Clay. SB-Jackson: Mike Holdren, Zach Haller, Kyle Stacy 3, Ryan Skeens, James Bachtel 2, Duke Rouse; South Point: Jamie Douglas, Shane Holsinger. 2B-South Point: Jared Waggoner, B. J. Belville, Justin Eaches. HR-South Point: Jarred Perdue. Sac-Jackson: Ty Hoover, Chad Knittel; South Point: Shane Holsinger. LOB-Jackson 6, South Point 7. Hitting-Jackson: Kyle Stacy 2-2, Mike Holdren 2-2 (RBI), Ryan Skeens 1-3, Justin Skaggs 2-4 (RBI), James Bachtel 2-4 (RBI); South Point: Brian Cremeans 1-3, Jared Waggoner 1-3, B. J. Belville 1-4 (2 RBI), Jamie Douglas 1-4, Dick Weaver RBI, Patrick Panell 1-1, Jarred Perdue 2-3 (2 RBI), Justin Eaches 2-4 (2 RBI).