Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PEDRO — Down but not out.
Rock Hill rallied from a four-run deficit to edge the Chesapeake Panthers 5-4 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Thursday.
“Give our guys credit. They came back and fought. They took advantage of the walks and we got key hits when we needed them,” said Rock Hill coach Barry Litteral.
Cody Lewis doubled to lead off the winning rally in the seventh inning and then went to third on a passed ball.
The Panthers walked Kaleb Kidd and Logan Hankins intentionally to load the bases and set up a force play at home.
Kaden France hit a high-hopper over the mound and the shortstop grabbed the ball and threw home too late as Lewis scored.
Chesapeake took a 1-0 lead in the first inning with two outs when Josh Hanson singled, moved up on a wild pitch and Zach Wright had an RBI single.
The lead went to 3-0 in the third.
Trent Dearth singled, stole second and went to third on an error and scored on Evan Burcham’s ground out. Hanson, Wright and Tyler Eddy all singled for the second run.
The Panthers added a run in the top of the sixth when Jaden Kerns singled, Hayden Henson sacrificed and Dearth got an RBI single.
The Redmen (10-1, 8-1) rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the inning.
Seth Nichols, Lewis and Kidd all walked, Hankins got a two-run single, France singled to load the bases, Smith had an RBI single and Blagg walked to force in the tying run.
“We had a chance to beat the best team in the league on their field and we let it slip away in the last six outs,” said Panthers’ coach Justin Davis.
“The first five innings were the best we’ve played all season.”
The Panthers had 11 hits led by Dearth who was 3-4 with a double. Eddy and Hanson were 2-3 while Wright and Jaden Kerns were 2-4.
On Friday, Chesapeake visits Gallipolis and Rock Hill hosts Ironton.
Chesapeake 102 001 0 = 4 11 1
Rock Hill 000 004 1 = 5 5 3
Bretton Martin, Trent Dearth (6) and Tyler Eddy. Nick Blankenship, Landon Smith (5) and Kaleb Kidd. W-Smith (IP-1.1, H-1, R-0, K-2). Blankenship (IP-5.2, H-10, R-4, ER-4, K-4, BB-1). L-Dearth (IP-2.0, H-4, R-3, ER-3, K-1, BB-4, ER-3). Martin (IP-5.0, R-2, ER-2, H-1, K-2, BB-4). Hitting-CHS: Josh Hanson 2-3, Zach Wright 2-4, Tyler Eddy 2-3, Jaden Kerns 2-4, Trent Dearth 3-4 2B; RH: Cody Lewis 1-2 2B, Logan Hankins 1-3, Kaden France 2-4, Landon Smith 1-3.