Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PROCTORVILLE — Doing a lot with a little.

Melanie Noble pitched out of two tight jams and Chesapeake used its five hits well as the Lady Panthers nipped the Fairland Lady Dragons 3-2 Tuesday in the Division III sectional tournament.

“Melanie pitched a good game and she pitched well when she had to,” said Chesapeake coach Aaron Rice. “They had bases loaded first and sixth and got only one run each time.

“Offensively we had five hits but we got them at the right time. We were pretty clutch on both sides of the ball.”

Noble struck out seven, walked two, hit two and gave up only five hits.

Chandler Fulks took the loss for Fairland. She gave up just five hits, struck out eight and walked three.

Chesapeake (5-10) will now play at Minford at 5 p.m. Friday in the sectional finals.

Fairland (9-11) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Mollie Morris had a bunt single, Caitlin Stone reached on a fielder’s choice and Ellen Hinshaw had an RBI double.

Chesapeake tied the game in the third when Breanna Skeens had a one-out single, went to second on an outfield error and Kelsey Huff had a run-scoring double.

The Lady Panthers took the lead with two runs in the fifth.

Laura Rice led off with a single, Skeens was safe on an error, Huff walked to load the bases and Lindsey Davidson and Sydnee Hall both walked to force in runs.

The Lady Dragons got a run in the sixth.

Hinshaw singled, Maddie Kazee doubled and Allison Shepherd was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

After a force out at home, Nicole Wagner beat out an infield hit to score Kazee. But Noble struck out the next two batters to end the threat.

Chesapeake 001 020 0 = 3 5 1

Fairland 100 001 0 = 2 5 2

Melanie Noble and Kelsey Huff. Chandler Fulks and Mollie Morris. W-Noble (K-7, BB-2, HBP-2). L-Fulks (K-8, BB-3). Hitting-Chesapeake: Breanna Skeens 1-4, Carrie Brock 1-4, Kelsey Huff 1-2 2B, Sydnee Hall 1-2, Laura Rice 1-3; Fairland: Mollie Morris 1-3, Ellen Hinshaw 2-3, Maddie Kazee 1-3, Nicole Wagner 1-1. 2B-Chesapeake: Kelsey Huff; Fairland: Maddie Kazee, Ellen Hinshaw.