Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PROCTORVILLE — Blake Lester threw strikes. Lots of them.

Lester struck out 12 and pitched a three-hitter as the Chesapeake Panthers beat the Fairland Dragons 8-1 on Thursday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

“We struck out way too much. We need to make adjustments and we didn’t do that. But Lester threw the ball in there for strikes,” said Fairland coach Bryan Ward.

Chesapeake (6-3, 6-0) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning.

Casey McComas doubled and Jacob Henson singled him home. Lester singled, Nate Smith walked to load the bases, Kobe McWhorter singled for a run and Bobby Arthur was safe on an error for the final run.

The Panthers got a run in the second when Henson walked, Lester singled and Jacob Eddy reached on error.

Dylan Murphy slugged a solo home run in the fourth for Fairland’s run.

The Panthers got two more in the fifth on singles by Eddy, McWhorter, Arthur and Blake Ashworth.

Chesapeake’s final two runs scores scored in the seventh.

Nate Smith walked, stole second and scored on McWhorter’s hit. Arthur walked, Ashworth was safe on an error and McWhorter scored on a passed ball.

Tyler George, Seth Clay and Murphy were all 1-for-3 for Fairland (5-7, 3-2).

Chesapeake 310 020 2 = 8 9 1

Fairland 000 100 0 = 1 3 3

Blake Lester and Blake Ashworth. Seth Clay, Dylan Murphy (2) and Garrett Scheibelhood. W-Lester (K-12, BB-2). L-Clay. Murphy (K-6, BB-4). Hitting—CHS: Casey McComas 1-4 2B, Jacob Henson 1-2, Blake Lester 2-3, Jacob Eddy 1-4, Kobe McWhorter 2-3, Bobby Arthur 1-3, Blake Ashworth 1-4; FHS: Tyler George 1-3, Dylan Murphy 1-3 HR, Seth Clay 1-2.