Dixon, Spears combine for no-hitter against Peebles

Pitching was the key to success for the Fairfield Lions on Tuesday night, with Hunter Dixon and Matthew Spears combining to throw 100 pitches and 13 strikeouts for a combined no-hitter in the Lions’ conference opener against Peebles.

The duo of Dixon and Spears not only no-hit the visiting Indians, they also shut them out on the scoreboard, as the Lions’ offense backed up the dominant pitching for an 8-0 win.

Dixon pitched the first six innings of the Southern Hills Athletic Conference contest, going a strong six innings, where he allowed just four walks and no hits on 100 pitches. Dixon totaled 12 strikeouts in the winning effort.

Spears slammed the door shut in the seventh inning on just eight pitches, finishing with one strikeout to preserve the no-hitter in the first conference game of the season.

Offensively for the Lions, they totaled 10 hits, with Mitchell Rose leading the way at 3-for-4 with one run. Austin Setty was 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI, as those two players combined for five of the Lions’ 10 hits.

Also with hits were Cody Gragg, Klay Walker, Dixon (a double), Mason Cain and Tucker Ayres. The Lions also walked twice, with Sam Buddelmeyer and Cain forcing the base-on-balls.

Those with RBIs were Dixon, Setty, Gragg, Ayres and Walker, while Buddelmeyer had a sacrifice. FHS also had seven stolen bases against PHS, with Cain swiping three bases and teammates Setty and Walker each having two. Randy Lamme was hit by a pitch.

For PHS, the loss went to Blake Stivers. In five innings, he allowed five runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks. He threw a total of 81 pitches.

The Lions will play again on Wednesday as they are scheduled to host the Paint Valley Bearcats at 5 p.m. in non-conference play.