Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CHESAPEAKE — Blake Lester is a workaholic. He’s also becoming a winaholic.

Lester pitched for the third time in seven days and got his second win in that span as the Chesapeake Panthers rallied to beat the Rock Hill Redmen 5-2 in an Ohio Valley Conference game Thursday.

Lester struck out nine, walked five and gave up six hits in going the distance.

Rock Hill (11-7) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning.

With two outs, Jonah Cox walked, stole second and scored on Jack Goodwin’s base hit. Jonathan Joseph and Jordan Hairston followed with hits and an outfield error allowed the second run to score.

Chesapeake cut the deficit in the bottom of the inning.

Jacob Eddy singled, Kolton Webb put down a sacrifice bunt, Casey McComas singled and Eddy scored on a double steal.

The Panthers then scored the decisive four runs in the fourth inning.

Lester and Joe Bias singled and an out later Bobby Arthur singled in a run. Austin Stone singled to score pinch-runner Wes Stevens and Eddy’s base hit scored pinch-runner Alex Miller.

Eddy was 2-3 for the Panthers and Joseph was 2-3 for the Redmen.

Rock Hill 002 000 0 = 2 6 1

Chesapeake 001 400 x = 5 7 1

Jordan Hairston, Jonah Cox (4) and Levi Wilds. Blake Lester and Blake Ashworth. W-Lester (K-9, BB-5). L-Hairston (IP-3.1, K-1, BB-2). Cox IP-2.2, K-5, BB-1. Hitting-RH: Jonah Cox 1-3, Jack Goodwin 1-2 rbi, Jonathan Joseph 2-3, Jordan Hairston 1-3, Levi Wilds 1-3; Chesapeake: Austin Stone 1-2, Jacob Eddy 2-3, Bobby Arthur 1-3, Blake Lester 1-3, Joe Bias 1-2, Casey McComas 1-2. 2B-RH: Levi Wilds.