MARTINS FERRY – It was the Shutler & Smith show in the Purple City Tuesday afternoon.

Hunter Shutler painted a masterpiece on the hill while Eli Smith delivered a booming bat in leading Martins Ferry past Navarre Fairless, 4-1, in a rapidly-played OHSAA Division V, East 1 District tournament semifinal.

The fifth-seeded Purple Riders of Anthony Reasbeck improved to 15-8 while the 14th-seeded Falcons closed out with a deceiving 5-22 ledger. They upset fourth-seeded Garaway in last week’s tourney opener.

The well-played triumph propels the Purple into a district championship encounter with top-seeded Barnesville on Thursday, with the winner punching its ticket into the regional tournament. The two teams have played a trio of contests this spring, with Barnesville winning twice.

The Shamrocks advanced Tuesday by ousting rival Union Local.

Shutler was nothing short of sensational. He yielded just three hits while striking our four and did not issue a walk. The talented right-hander needed just 59 pitches (44 were strikes) in going the distance. The lone Falcons’ run was of the unearned variety.

Smith, Shutler’s battery mate, made the most of his three plate appearances. He hit a sacrifice fly, plating Christian Shutler to tie matters at 1-1 in the first inning. Shutler reached on a single.

Smith crushed a two-run double in the third inning, providing the Purple Riders with the winning run. He capped his day with a homer over the left-center fence in the six-inning.

“Hunter was lights out. He was in total command,” Reasbeck said. “He has been dominant from day one. So we come to expect that from Hunter.

“Eli is the district player-of-the year for a reason. He is a great player,” added the former Martins Ferry athletic standout. “Eli come up really big once again today. I also thought Colby (Kropka) made some really nice plays at shortstop.”

Fairless, trailing 3-1, made things a little interesting in the sixth inning.

With one out, the Falcons strung together back-to-back singles. Shutler was more than up to the task, ending the frame by inducing a routine fly ball and popup to second base.

“It was a total team effort. Our defense was really good today,” Shutler said. “I was really pleased with my control and I had command of all five of my pitches. It is fun to still be playing in the tournament.”

Mike Ritterbeck was also sharp on the hill for Fairless. He scattered only seven hits while fanning four and did not walk a Rider.

“We knew this was going to be a tough game,” Reasbeck said. “We played them last year and they went 14-6. Their record is misleading. They play a tough schedule.

“Ritterbeck is a quality pitcher. He pitched very well today,” he added. “It is a nice win. Now we just need to get ready for Barnesville again.”

Ferry committed just one error. It came on the game’s first batter and led to the Falcons’ only run.

The game was played in a robust 68 minutes.