SOUTH POINT - All you have to do is ask.

That seemed to be what South Point sophomore pitcher Justin Smith was saying Friday as he led the Pointers to a 5-1 win over the Coal Grove Hornets in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Smith kept the Pointers league title hopes alive as they improved to 8-9 overall and 6-2 in the OVC, one-half game behind Fairland and tied for second with Chesapeake.

Smith struck out eight, walked six and allowed just five hits as he recorded the complete game.

"Justin gave up a couple of walks early and it cost him a run, but after that he settled down and did what we asked him to do," Pointers coach Kevin Milem said. "That was a big game for us to win, and for a sophomore he handled the pressure well."

The Pointers have two league games remaining. They play at Coal Grove Wednesday and River Valley next Friday.

Coal Grove's Tommy Pemberton pitched well in defeat. He gave up seven hits, struck out 10 and did not walk a batter.

Randy Wise and Luke Tackett walked and Pemberton singled as Coal Grove took a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

The score remained that way until the fourth inning when the Pointers took a 2-1 lead.

Caleb Copley reached on a wild pitch strikeout and Seth Craft singled Copley to third. Craft stole second and Dale Kinney delivered a two-run single.

The Pointers added three insurance runs in the fifth inning.

Tyler Staton singled and Zane Joy was safe on an error. Staton stole third with Joy going to second on the play. Wes Patterson then smacked a two-run single.

Copley put down a sacrifice bunt and Craft doubled home Patterson with the final run.

Craft was 2-3 to pace the Pointers offense.

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Tommy Pemberton and Nick Bazell. Justin Smith and Dale Kinney. W-Smith (8-K, 6-W). L-Pemberton (10-K, 0-W). 2B-South Point: Caleb Copley, Seth Craft. 3B-Coal Grove: Patrick Roush. Hitting-Coal Grove: Andrew Johnson 1-4, Luke Tackett 1-3, Tommy Pemberton 1-1, Patrick Roush 1-3, Colton Hitchcock 1-3; South Point: Wes Patterson 1-3, Caleb Copley 1-2, Seth Craft 2-3, Dale Kinney 1-3, Tyler Staton 1-2, Zane Joy 1-2.