By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

PEDRO — The Rock Hill Redmen had some big hits, just not enough.

Rock Hill had 10 hits including a pair of home runs but still lost a 10-9 slugfest to the Portsmouth Trojans on Friday in the Division III sectional finals.

“We had some clutch hits, but we couldn’t get the clutch hit that would send us over the top,” said Rock Hill coach Barry Litteral.

Rock Hill took a 3-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run homer by Drew Kidd and a solo shot by Cody Massie.

Portsmouth got a run in the second on an RBI double by Mitch Gower and scored three runs in the third thanks to a pair of Rock Hill errors and an RBI single by Jeremy Scott and Alex Coakley’s run-scoring double.

The Redmen roared back with five runs in the bottom of the inning to lead 8-4.

Kidd, Jonathan Schob and Massie all walked. Devin Darby singled in two runs, Matt Jenkins doubled in one and Jared Bruce had a two-run double.

Two errors, a walk, a two-run double by Adam Bray and a two-run single by Brennan Howard enabled the Trojans to tie the game in the fourth.

A single by Brandon Wedebrook, a sacrifice and a hit by Howard put the Trojans up in the sixth, but Rock Hill tied the game in the bottom of the inning on walks to Kidd and Schob and Darby’s two-out RBI single.

Portsmouth scored the winning run with two outs in the seventh when Josh Myers doubled and Wedebrook singled.

The Redmen threatened in the bottom of the inning when Russell singled with two outs, stole second and went to third on a throwing error. But the next batter flied out to end the game.

Rock Hill finishes 13-3 and they shared the Ohio Valley Conference championship.

“The kids played great all year. They wanted to go on, but I’m proud of them,” said Litteral.

Portsmouth 013 401 1 = 10 13 2

Rock Hill 305 001 0 = 9 10 4

Josh Myers, Levi Porter (6) and Brennan Howard. Ryan Hackworth, Devin Darby (4) and Cody Massie. W-Porter (IP-2, K-0, BB-0, H-2, R-0). Myers 5-IP, K-4, BB-7, H-8, R-9. L-Darby (IP-4, K-1, BB-1, H-8, R-4, ER-3). Hackworth IP-3, K-4, BB-2, H-5, R-6, ER_2. 2B-Porsmouth: Josh Myers, Adam Bray, Alex Coakley, Mitch Gower, Brennan Howard; Rock Hill: Matt Jenkins, Jared Bruce. HR-Rock Hill: Drew Kidd, Cody Massie. Hitting-Portsmouth: Josh Myers 1-5, Adam Bray 1-4, Alex Coakley 2-3, Mitch Gower 1-4, Brennan Howard 3-4, Jeremy Scott 3-4, Brandon Wedebrook 2-3; Rock Hill: Shane Russell 1-4, Drew Kidd 2-3, Cody Massie 1-2, Matt Jenkins 1-3, Jared Bruce 1-4, Chris Donohue 2-4, Devin Darby 2-4.