Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

SOUTH POINT — The key elements of baseball are pitching and defense.

Well, they got the pitching right.

In a game that was marred by 11 errors, the Chesapeake Panthers used some strong pitching by Blake Lester to beat the South Point Pointers 7-3 on Friday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

Lester fashioned a complete game three-hitter as he struck out five and walked only one.

South Point pitchers were the victims of a shaky defense that was guilty of seven errors. Starter Josh Browning gave up all seven runs but only two were earned. Reliever Alex Whit worked 3.1 innings, struck out three, walked none and allowed just one hit.

The Panthers (3-3, 2-1) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Jacob Henson singled, Quinton Harris reached on an error and Mike Walters had an RBI single.

South Point got two runs in the bottom of the inning when Jesse Lien singled and Brandon Boggs and Chris Woodard both reached on errors.

The Panthers went up 3-2 in the top of the second. Koby McWhorter and Henson singled, pulled off a double steal and Lester had a two-run single.

The Pointers tied the game in the bottom of the inning on a two-out double by Luke Kelly and a single by Lien.

Chesapeake then scored four runs in the fifth inning.

Lester was safe on an error, Joe Bias singled and Walters had an RBI single. Brett Curry was safe on an error as two runs scored and Dakota Hutchinson capped the rally with a run-scoring double.

Walters was 2-4 with two RBIs as the Panthers had nine hits. Lien was 2-4 for the Pointers (1-2, 0-2).

Chesapeake 120 040 0 = 7 9 4

South Point 210 000 0 = 3 3 7

Blake Lester and Derek Morris. Josh Browning, Alex Whitt (4) and Chris Woodard. W-Lester (K-5, BB-1). L-Browning (IP-3.2, K-3, BB-1, ER-2, H-8). Whitt IP-3.1, K-3, BB-0, H-1. Hitting-Chesapeake: Jacob Henson 1-4, Blake Lester 1-4 rbi-2, Joe Bias 1-4, Mike Walters 2-4 rbi-2, Dakota Hutchinson 1-3 rbi; SP: Jesse Lien 2-4 rbi, Chris Woodard rbi, Luke Kelley 1-2.