Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

FRANKLIN FURNACE — The Green Bobcats took a big step with a big win.
Green blanked the Portsmouth Clay Panthers 10-0 in five innings on Friday to move within a half-game of first place in the Southern Ohio Conference race.
Green is now 12-2 overall and 9-1 in the SOC. Clay fell to 15-4 and 10-2 in the league.
The Bobcats need a win against Sciotoville East at Chillicothe on Monday to earn a share of the league title. They need a win against Symmes Valley next Friday to win the title outright.
Tanner Kimbler tossed a two-hit shutout for the Bobcats. He struck out five and did not walk a batter. Kimbler needed just 58 pitches as he improved to 4-1.
“Kimbler was outstanding. He had very good command,” said Green coach Dan McDavid. “We came out focused and it showed.
“Tayte Carver played an outstanding game at shortstop. He had a diving catch in the third. And Bryce Ponn continues to clean up at the plate. He had three more RBI.”
Kimbler had a perfect game for 4.1 innings before Clay got two singles, one on a bunt.
Rylee Maynard singled and Kimbler reached on an error to put runners at second and third. Carver and Ponn had RBI singles, then pulled off a double steal and Mason Barber hit a sacrifice fly.
In the third, Kimlber singled, stole second and scored on Ponn’s hit to make it 4-0.
Green put the game away with six runs in the fourth.
Whittis reached on an error and Caden Brammer walked. Eli Webb beat out a bunt to load the bases and Kimbler was hit by a pitch to force in Whittis.
Carver was then hit by a pitch to score pinch-runner Drake Moughey. Ponn walked to force in a run and Mason Barber had a two-run, two-out double. Whittis then singled home the final run.
Ponn was 2-2 with three RBI.
Ports. Clay 000 00 = 0 2 4
Green 301 6x = 10 8 0
Reece Whitley, Shaden Malone (4) and Clay Cottle. Tanner Kimbler and Mason Barber. W-Kimbler (K-5, BB-0). L-Whitley. Hitting-Clay: Bradley McCleese 1-2, Clay Cottle 1-2; Green: Rylee Maynard 1-3, Tanner Kimbler 1-2, Tayte Carver 1-2 2-rbi, Bryce Ponn 2-2 3-rbi, Mason Barber 1-2 2B 3-rbi, Hayden Whittis 1-3, Eli Webb 1-3.