Panthers notch big win over Pointers
Published 12:00 am Thursday, April 29, 2004
CHESAPEAKE - Big game, big win.
The Chesapeake Panthers beat the South Point Pointers 8-7 in eight innings Wednesday to take over sole possession of first place in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Chesapeake is 9-5 on the season but more importantly 6-1 in the OVC. The Panthers are one-half game ahead of Fairland and the two teams meet Thursday at Chesapeake.
"That's a big one. It was all or nothing tonight. But we just got out of the frying pan and went into the fire now," Panthers coach Joe Waugh said.
South Point is 7-9 on the season and 5-2 in the OVC. Pointers coach Kevin Milem only had praise for his team which battled back from a 6-0 deficit to take the lead before losing.
"I'm proud of the way my kids battled back. They showed a lot of character bouncing back they way they did," Milem said. "And I want to congratulate Chesapeake. They played a really good game and I wish them the best of luck in the future."
Chesapeake snapped the scoreless game with three runs in the second inning.
Jeff Gilkison and Matt Whitmore singled to start the inning, moved up on Keith Marcum's ground out and came home on Zach Henderson's base hit. Walks to Kersten Harris, P.J. Rase and Benji Pyles scored the final run.
The lead went to 4-0 in the third inning. Whitmore was hit by a pitch, Phillip Butcher walked and Marcum had a run-scoring single.
The Panthers pushed across two more runs in the fourth to lead 6-0.
With one out Rase walked, stole second, moved to third on an infield hit by Pyles who then stole second. Justin Finley hit a sacrifice fly and Whitmore capped the rally with an RBI single.
South Point finally came to life in the fifth inning with three runs.
Calvin Robinson singled, Justin Smith walked, and Tyler Staton put down a sacrifice bunt. Zane Joy then delivered a two-run single, took second on a hit by Wes Patterson, and Seth Craft was safe on an error as the run scored.
The Pointers took a 7-6 lead with four runs in the top of the sixth.
Corey Smoot was safe on an error, Robinson was safe on a fielder's choice. Robinson stole second, took third on a wild pitch and came home on a bad pickoff throw.
Staton was hit by a pitch. Joy and Patterson singled for the second run. A passed ball moved the runners up a base and they scored on a base hit by Caleb Copley.
"I knew they were going to hit the ball. They're a good hitting team. And we made some fielding errors that helped them along," Waugh said.
Chesapeake tied the game in the bottom of the sixth.
Finley singled. Gilkison was safe on an error. Whitmore put down a sacrifice bunt, Butcher was hit by a pitch, and Marcum was safe on a fielder's choice as the run scored.
That set up the thrilling finish in the bottom of the eighth.
Finley walked and Gilkison put down a sacrifice bunt to start the inning. Whitmore walked and then Marcum singled to score Finley.
Gilkison got the win in relief of Rase.
South Point00003400-783
Chesapeake03120101-892
Seth Craft, Tyler Staton (4), Justin Smith (8) and Dale Kinney. P.J. Rase (5-K, 1-W), Jeff Gilkison (6) and Justin Finley. W-Gilkison (4-K, 1-W). L-Staton (2-K, 2-W). Hitting-South Point: Wes Patterson 2-4, Caleb Copley 1-5, Seth Craft 1-4, Dale Kinney 1-4, Calvin Robinson 1-4, Zane Joy 2-3; Chesapeake: P.J. Rase 1-3, Benji Pyles 1-4, Justin Finley 1-3, Jeff Gilkison 1-3, Matt Whitmore 2-2, Keith Marcum 2-5, Zach Henderson 1-4.