Chesapeake – Zeb Best was at his best.

Tuesday, April 25, 2000

Chesapeake – Zeb Best was at his best. Best, Chesapeake’s junior righthander, pitched a three-hitter and struck out 10 as he led the Panthers past the Rock Hill Redmen 16-3 Monday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

"Rock Hill can hit the ball, but Best came through and pitched a good game. He was around the plate and threw strikes. It’s important for him to come through right now," Chesapeake coach Joe Waugh.

Chesapeake used a big 11-run fourth inning to blow the game open and had 11 hits to back Best’s pitching.

After a scoreless first inning, Chesapeake scored three times in the second.

Noah Phillips singled, moved up on a wild pitch and passed ball, and scored on Josh Waugh’s base hit. Waugh stole second and came around on Greg Lambert’s base hit. Lambert came around to score on Tony Bell’s sacrifice fly.

Rock Hill got a pair of runs in the top of the third.

David Malone walked, Nathan Litteral singled, and Tyler Virgin had a two-run single.

But the Panthers got the two runs back in the bottom of the inning.

With two outs, Waugh walked, stole second and third, Lambert walked, and Waugh came home when Todd Oberly reached on an error. Ernest Bonecutter was safe on an error as Lambert scored.

Chesapeake then erupted for 11 runs in the fourth.

Joey Macri and Andy Clark singled, Best walked to load the bases, and Phillips had a two-run single. Lambert was hit by a pitch, a passed ball scored Phillips, and Oberly walked.

Bonecutter reached on an error as Lambert scored. Bell was safe on an error as Oberly came home. Macri got his second hit of the inning to score Bonecutter, Clark had a run-scoring double, and Best was safe on an error as two runs scored.

Phillips singled in a Macri, and Lambert hit into a fielder’s choice as Best scored.

"As a team, up and down the lineup, we’re starting to hit the ball. Before the balls were caught, but now they’re finding the open spot," coach Waugh said.

Macri was 3-3, Phillips 3-4 with three RBI, and Clark 2-4 to pace the Panthers. Virgin was 2-3 for Rock Hill.

Chesapeake, 4-7 and 3-2 in the OVC, plays host to Russell, Ky. Tuesday. Rock Hill hosts Fairland Wednesday.

Rock Hill 002 01 – 3 3 4

Chesapeake 032 (11)x – 16 11 1

Josh Harper, Nathan Litteral (4), Tyler Virgin (4) and David Martin. Zeb Best and Greg Lambert. W-Best (10-K, 2-W). L-Harper. 2B-Chesy: Andy Clark. Hitting-Rock Hill: Tyler Virgin 2-3, J. D. Gore 1-3; Chesy: Joey Macri 3-3, Andy Clark 2-4, Noah Phillips 3-4 (3 RBI), Josh Waugh 1-2, Greg Lambert 1-2, Todd Oberly 1-3.