Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

AID — A couple of league champions hooked up under different circumstances.

The Chesapeake Panthers — who have clinched at least a share of the OVC title — don’t play again until next week in a final league game at Coal Grove.

The SOC champion Symmes Valley Vikings have two league games left this week.

The Panthers upheld the honor of the Ohio Valley Conference with a 5-0 shutout behind the pitching of ace Blake Lester.

Lester — who worked an inning of relief on Monday — went six innings and allowed five hits, struck out 11 and walked two. Alix Miller worked the seventh.

Jacob Klaiber and Chayden Renfroe had a combined effort for the Vikings (14-2).

Klaiber went four innings, walked two, gave up seven hits and five runs. Renfroe worked three innings, struck out two and walked one.

Lester was 2-for-3 and Casey McComas 1-3 with a triple as six different players had hits.

Tanner Mays was 2-4 for the Vikings.

McComas tripled, Nate Smith walked and stole second and Lester had an RBI single to start the game.

Dakota Blankenship followed with a sacrifice fly and a 2-0 lead.

The Panthers got three runs in the fourth with two outs.

Bobby Arthur singled and pinch-runner Kelton Jones went to third on a pair of throwing errors. Kolton Webb was safe on an outfield error to score Jones.

McComas walked, stole second and Smith had a two-run single.

Chesapeake 200 300 0 = 5 7 1

Sym. Valley 000 000 0 = 0 6 5

Blake Lester, Alix Miller (7) and Blake Ashworth, Dalton Nida (5). Jacob Klaiber, Chayden Renfroe (5) and Cameron Meadows. W-Lester (IP-6, K-11, BB-2, H-5). Miller (IP-1, K-0, BB-1, H-1). L-Klaiber (IP-4, K-0, BB-2, H-7, R-5). Renfroe (IP-3, K-2, BB-1, H-0, R-0). Hitting—Chesy: Casey McComas 1-3 3B, Nate Smith 1-2 rbi-2, Blake Lester 2-3 rbi, Dakota Blankenship rbi, Jacob Henson 1-3, Bobby Arthur 1-3, Kolton Webb 1-2; SV: Payton Hayes 1-4, Dillon McFann 1-4, Tanner Mays 2-4, Cameron Meadows 1-3, Trent Thompson 1-4.