Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CHILLICOTHE — Things are happening fast for the Chesapeake Panthers.

After a 13-inning win in the sectional finals on Sunday, the Panthers came back two days later to rout the Westfall Mustangs 13-4 on Tuesday in the Division III district semifinals.

And in two more days Chesapeake (17-6) will play Wheelersburg (22-1) at 6 p.m. in the district finals. The Pirates beat Waverly 12-1 in an earlier game on Tuesday.

Jacob Henson worked six innings for the win after pitching four innings on Sunday. He struck out six, walked four, gave up four hits and three runs.

Nate Smith pitched the seventh.

The Panthers went up 1-0 in the second on hit by Henson, a ground out and Jacob Eddy’s base hit.

Kolton Webb reached on an error and Blake Lester tripled him home as the Panthers went up 2-0 in the third.

Chesapeake extended its lead to 5-0 in the top of the fourth.

Blake Ashworth reached on a missed third strike. Eddy walked, Smith reached on an error and Casey McComas tripled to clear the bases.

Westfall (13-17) got within 5-3 in the bottom of the fourth.

Cole Hardin walked, Austin Nunemaker singled and Brandon Price and Jon Lawson walked to force in a run. Corbin Ferrell then had a two-run single.

The Panthers got a run in the fifth on hits by Lester, Blankenship and Eddy.

In the sixth, McComas doubled and came around to score after a wild pitch and a passed ball to make it 7-3.

Chesapeake put the game away with a six-run explosion in the seventh.

Henson singled, stole second, took third on a passed ball and scored on Ashworth’s sacrifice fly.

Ashworth’s fly ball was dropped allowing him to reach safely. Eddy then reached on an error and Smith singled for a run. McComas walked and Webb was safe on an error to score pinchrunner Josh Henson.

A wild pitch scored Smith and Blankenship tripled to drive in the final two runs.

The Mustangs final run came in the bottom of the seventh on hits by Ferrell, Nunemaker and Dustin Kaiser and a ground out by Hardin.

Eddy was 2-3 with two runs batted in, McComas was 2-4 with a double and triple and three RBI, Lester was 2-4 with a triple and RBI, Blankenship was 2-5 and two RBI and Henson also went 2-5.

Chesapeake 011 311 6 = 13 11 0

Westfall 000 300 1 = 4 7 5

Jacob Henson, Nate Smith (7) and Blake Ashworth. Kyle Greiner, Dustin Kaiser (5), Cole Hardin (7) and Corbin Ferrell. W-Henson (IP-6, K-6, BB-4, H-4, R-3). Smith (IP-1, K-1, H-3, R-1). L-Greiner (IP-4, K-2, BB-1, H-6, R-6). Kaiser (IP-2, K-1, BB-1, H-3, R-3). Hardin (IP-1, BB-1, H-2, R-4). Hitting- Chesy: Casey McComas 2-4 2B 3B rbi-3, Blake Lester 2-4 3B rbi, Dakota Blankenship 2-5 3B, rbi-2, Jacob Eddy 2-3 rbi-2, Nate Smith 1-4 rbi, Jacob Henson 2-5; WF: Austin Nunemaker 1-3, Dustin Kaiser 1-4, Tyler Armentrout 1-4, Kyle Greiner 2-3, Corbin Ferrell 2-3.