Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CHESAPEAKE — A good game proved to be just a little better for the Chesapeake Panthers.
In a tightly contested game, the Panthers edged the Rock Hill Redmen 4-3 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Tuesday.
“It was a great baseball game. We were able to execute a little better than them and that was the difference,” said Panthers’ coach Justin Davis.
“Bryce Depriest threw another complete game for us. He just throws strikes and changes speeds.”
Depriest threw just 91 pitches as he struck out two and walked two.
“We had opportunities. We just didn’t get the key hit when we needed it,” said Rock Hill coach Barry Litteral.
The Panthers went up 1-0 in the first inning when Casey McComas singled, stole second and scored on Josh Hansen’s double.
Rock Hill (2-1, 0-1) tied the game in the second when Kaleb Kidd walked, Landon Smith had a sacrifice and Kyle Stanfield got an RBI double.
Chesapeake went up 2-1 in the third on a triple by McComas and Hansen’s base hit.
Rock Hill took the lead with two runs in the fourth.
Kidd was safe on an error, Smith and Stanfield singled to load the bases, Jaret Bacorn hit a sacrifice fly and Seth Nichols put down a squeeze bunt for an RBI.
The Panthers got the winning runs in the fifth.
McComas was hit by a pitch, Dalton Nida walked and Depriest grounded out as the run scored. Evan Burcham then hit a 2-2 pitch for an RBI single.
“Burcham may have had the biggest at-bat of the game,” said Davis.
Burcham was 2-4 and Austin Browning 2-3 for the Panthers.
Lewis and Stanfield each went 2-3 for the Redmen.
On Wednesday, Chesapeake visits Portsmouth and Rock Hill goes to South Point.
Chesapeake    101    020    0    =    4    8    2
Rock Hill    010    200    0    =    3    8    1
Bryce Depriest and Dalton Nida. Landon Smith, Nick Blankenship (6), Cody Lewis (7) and Kaleb Kidd. W-Depriest (K-2, BB-2). L-Smith (IP-5.1, K-4, BB-5, HBP-2). Hitting-Chesy: Casey McComas 1-2 3B, Josh Hansen 2-4, Evan Burcham 2-4 2B, Austin Browning 2-3, Tyler Eddy 1-2; RH: Cody Lewis 2-3 3B, Logan Hankins 1-3, Kaleb Kidd 1-4, Landon Smith 1-1, Kyle Stanfield 2-3, Jaret Bacorn SF RBI, Mason Darby 1-3.