Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — The Green Bobcats must have given their bats some sleeping pills.
The Bobcats had just two hits in a 3-1 Southern Ohio Conference loss to the Portsmouth Clay Panthers on Wednesday.
Clay’s Dakota Dodds got the win while Tayte Carver tossed a seven-hitter in taking the loss.
Carver struck out nine and walked one.
“We just didn’t hit, but they outplayed us. Give them credit. They got some timely hits,” said Green coach Dan McDavid.
“Dodds threw a heck of a game. He kept us off-balance with his curveball. Carver pitched a really good game, too.”
Green is now 10-2 overall and 7-1 in the SOC. Clay is now 13-3 overall and 8-1 in the league.
The Bobcats got their run in the top of the second.
Levi Singleton walked, Mason Barber reached on an error and Hayden Whittis walked to load the bases. Two outs later, Rylee Maynard got an infield hit to drive in a run.
Clay tied the game in the bottom of the inning.
Clay Cottle walked, Dodds singled and a two-out passed ball missed third strike allowed Cottle to score.
The Panthers took the lead with a run in the fourth.
Bradley McCleese doubled, Cottle put down a sacrifice and Dodds hit a sacrifice fly.
Clay got its final run in the fifth when Keith Cottle singled, stole second and scored on a hit by Jaden Jesse.
Bryce Ponn singled for the Bobcats’ other hit.
Green hosts Beaver Eastern on Thursday and Clay on Friday.
Green 010 000 0 = 1 2 0
Ports. Clay 010 100 x = 2 7 2
Tayte Carver and Mason Barber. Dakota Dodds and Reece Whitley. W-Dodds (K-4, BB-3, HBP-1, ER-0). L-Carver (K-9, BB-1). Hitting-Green: Rylee Maynard 1-3 rbi, Bryce Ponn 1-2; Clay: Keith Cottle 1-3, Jaden Jesse 3-3, Bradley McCleese 2-3 2B, Dakota Dodds 1-2.