BASEBALL

Fayetteville 4, Evadale 0: CONROE -- Fayetteville's Aaron Keilers pitched a one-hitter, and Ryan Birch hit a three-run homer to power the Owls to a 4-0 victory over Evadale in the opener of their Class A best-of-3 area playoff series.

Keilers carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning when Evadale got a single and walk, but he pitched out of trouble.

Birch homered in the first for Fayetteville (16-7), which finished second in District 28-A.

Fayetteville 4, Evadale 0

Fayetteville 310 000 0 -- 4 5 0

Evadale 000 000 0 -- 0 1 2

Aaron Keilers and Jordan Weishuhn. David Drake and Clint Richardson. W -- Keilers, 9-2. L -- Drake.

Leading Fayetteville hitters: Ryan Birch 1 for 3, 3-run homer.

Team records -- Fayetteville, 28-A runnerup, is 16-7; Evadale, 25-A champ, 19-4.

Next -- Game 2 will be 7 p.m. Friday in Conroe; Game 3, if needed, noon Saturday.

Special to The Eagle