Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CHESAPEAKE — Instead of “Play it again, Sam,” Chesapeake Lady Panthers’ coach Aaron Rice might have preferred Humphrey Bogart to say, “Keep playing it, Sam.”

After falling behind 5-0 in the first inning, the Lady Panthers rallied to edge the Fairland Lady Dragons 8-7 Monday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“We told them to keep playing. There’s a lot of game left. We just need to play better and we did for the most part,” said Rice.

Fairland (4-9) got the early lead with five unearned runs.

Mollie Morris was hit by a pitch with one out. Ellen Hinshaw reached on an error and another error loaded the bases. Mackenzie Riley singled home two runs.

Allison Shepherd singled in two more runs and an error allowed a run to score.

The lead went to 6-0 in the third when Shepherd reached on a one-out error and scored on a hit by Tiffani Christian.

Chesapeake (3-6, 2-4) then erupted for eight runs in the fourth to take the lead.

Carrie Brock reached on an error to start the rally. Kelsey Huff hit into a fielder’s choice and Melanie Noble singled. Lindsey Davidson singled in a run, Alyssa Scott and Sydnee Hall then walked to force in a run pinch-runner Robin Frye.

McKenna Wells and Laura Rice each reached on errors to plate two runs. Brock singled for an RBI and Huff walked and Noble had an RBI single.

The Lady Dragons got within 8-7 with a run sixth.

Hinshaw singled with one out and Maddy Kazee hit into a fielder’s choice. Riley walked and Shepherd had an RBI single.

Noble picked up the win and was 2-3 as Chesapeake had six hits.

Riley was 2-3 while Shepherd and Hinshaw were 2-4.

Chesapeake visits Spring Valley Tuesday and hosts Coal Grove Wednesday.

Fairland 501 001 0 = 7 8 3

Chesapeake 000 800 x = 8 6 7

Chandler Fulks and Mollie Morris. Melanie Noble and Kelsey Huff. W-Noble (K-5, BB-3). L-Fulks (K-4, BB-6). Hitting-Fairland: Caitlin Stone 1-5, Allison Shepherd 2-4 rbi-2, Mackenzie Riley 2-3, Ellen Hinshaw 2-4, Tiffani Christian 1-4; Chesapeake: Carrie Brock 1-4 rbi-2, Melanie Noble 2-3, Lindsey Davidson 1-3, Breanna Skeens 1-3, Alyssa Scott 1-2, Sydnee Hall 1-1. 3B-Chesapeake: Sydnee Hall.