JACKSON - With their ace unable to go a whole game, the Fairland Dragons turned to their ace in the hole.

After pitching seven innings on Friday, Michael Hill wasn't ready

to go the distance in Tuesday's Division III district semifinal game. So Fairland coach Roger Snyder sent Cory McKnight to the mound and he responded with five strong innings as the Dragons edged the Westfall Mustangs 5-4.

"Good defense and key hits. That was the secret tonight. And I can't say enough about Cory McKnight. You expect Michael to pitch well, but Cory has been in big games and pitched well. He's a gamer," Dragons coach Roger Snyder said.

McKnight struck out five, walked five and allowed three hits in five innings of work. Hill finished up and recorded five strikeouts while allowing one hit.

"Michael said he was a little tight, but as usual Cory just battled. He kept the ball down and, if he doesn't walk a couple, they have trouble scoring," Snyder said. "Once we got the lead and Cory got past the fifth inning, it was all Hill from there."

Fairland, 20-3, will play Lucasville Valley at 5 p.m. Friday at McDermott Northwest in the district finals.

The Dragons took a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Todd Maynard singled, Hill was safe on an error and McKnight doubled them home.

Westfall got a run in the second on walks to Bobby Horney and Dustin Schooley and two ground outs.

Fairland got the run back in the bottom of the inning when Trenton Moore doubled and Nick Zundel singled.

The Mustangs rallied to take a 4-3 lead in the top of the third inning.

With one out, Joe Morris doubled, moved to third on an infield hit by Wade Bartholomew and Les Fausnaugh hit a sacrifice fly.

Horney singled, stole second and Schooley was safe on an error as the second run scored. Scott Huffer and Jordan Egelhoff walked to load the bases and a passed ball scored Horney.

The Dragons tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Hill singled, went to second base on a passed ball and scored on a hit by Adam Fuller.

Fairland got the winning run in the fourth inning.

Chris Barnett and Trenton Moore each singled and a bunt attempt resulted in a force out at third base. Zundel walked to load the bases and Maynard had a run-scoring single.

Barnett and Moore were 2-for-3 and Maynard 2-4 as Fairland got 11

hits.

Westfall, which upset No. 1-ranked Unioto on Monday, ends its season 21-7.

Westfall0130000=441

Fairland211100x=5111

Nick Clark, Joe Morris (4), Les Fausnaugh (5) and Bartholomew. Cory McKnight, Michael Hill (6) and Adam Fuller. W-McKnight (5-K, 5-BB, 3-ER, 3-H). Save-Hill (5-K, 0-BB, 1-H). L-Clark (2-K, 2-BB). 2B-Westfall: Joe Morris; Fairland: Todd Maynard, Cory McKnight, Trenton Moore. Hitting-Westfall: Joe Morris 2-4, Wade Bartholomew 2-4, Bobby Horney 1-3; Fairland: Nick Zundel 1-2, Todd Maynard 2-4, Michael Hill 1-2, Cory McKnight 1-4, Adam Fuller 1-3, Chris Barnett 2-3, Trenton Moore 2-3, Nolan Love 1-3.