Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CHESAPEAKE — Dakota Blankenship was in the zone. All he was waiting for was the ball to get in the zone, too.

Blankenship got the pitch he wanted and lined a two-out, three-run double in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Chesapeake Panthers over the Rock Hill Redmen 5-4 on Wednesday in the Division III sectional tournament.

Rock Hill had taken a 4-2 lead in the top of the inning before the Panthers’ comeback.

“I talked all week about first-pitch approach. If it’s not in the strike zone, don’t swing. Dakota got one in his zone and he smacked it,” said Panthers’ coach Justin Davis.

“I’m glad the kids didn’t quit. We got down and we haven’t hit him for five innings. But we just hung around and got to our best hitter and he came through.”

The loss spoiled an outstanding pitching performance by Rock Hill senior Sean McFann.

He struck out nine, walked four and hit a batter before leaving in the 10th inning after throwing 130 pitches.

“McFann threw a very, very good baseball game. He dominated from the fifth to the tenth and then he got a little tired,” said Davis.

Kolton Webb work four innings for the win as he struck out six and walked one. Casey McComas went six innings and struck out seven while walking four and hitting one.

Rock Hill took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Jake Blagg walked, McFann singled, Brandon Schob walked and Cody Lewis had a two-run single.

The Panthers tied the game in the second inning.

Webb was hit by a pitch, Blake Ashworth reached on an error, Jamey Mills double in a run and Kelton Jones singled home another.

The score remained tied until the 10th when Rock Hill scored two unearned runs.

McFann reached on an error to start the inning. Schob singled and Lewis bunted and a throwing error on the play scored McFann. After a squeeze attempt failed for an out, Kyle Stanfield reached on an error as the second run scored.

In the bottom of the inning, Jones singled with one out. After a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch put Jones on the third, McComas and Webb walked to load the bases.

Blankenship then hit the first pitch for a double to clear the bases.

“It was a heck of a game. Both teams chances but couldn’t score. It was a game of ‘what ifs’,” said Rock Hill coach Barry Litteral.

Chesapeake plays at Coal Grove On Thursday and visits Wheelersburg at 11 a.m. on Saturday in the sectional finals.

Rock Hill 200 000 000 2 = 4 8 2

Chesapeake 020 000 000 3 = 5 6 3

Sean McFann, Landon Smith (10) and Kaleb Kidd. Casey McComas, Kolton Webb (7) and Blake Ashworth. W-Webb (IP-4.0, R-2, ER-1, H-3,K-6,B-1). McComas (IP-6.0, H-5, R-2, ER-2, K-7, BB-4, HBP-1). L-McFann (IP-9.1, H-5, R-5, ER-5, K-9, BB-4, HBP-1). Smith (H-1). Hitting-RH: Jake Blagg 1-4, Sean McFann 1-4, Brandon Schob 2-4, Cody Lewis 2-4, Landon Smith 1-4, Trae Crabtree 1-5; CHS: Casey McComas 1-4, Dakota Blankenship 1-4. Jamey Mills 2-4 2B, Kelton Jones 2-4.