Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Nick Blankenship brought his “A” game.
Blankenship pitched a five-hitter as the Rock Hill Redmen beat the Huntington Highlanders 7-4 on Friday.
Blankenship struck out three and walked five, but only one run was earned.
“Blankenship threw a really nice ball game. He kept them off-balance and threw really well,” said Redmen coach Barry Litteral.
The Redmen (3-1) combined six hits and seven walked to generate their offensive production. Logan Hankins was 2-4 with a double and Kadin France was also 2-4.
Huntington got four runs in the second but the Redmen came back to take the
Blankenship was safe on an error, Hankins doubled and Kaleb Kidd grounded out for an RBI. France singled in the second run.
Landon Smith and Jordan Griffith walked to force in a run and Braydon Friend reached on an error for two more runs.
Rock Hill added two insurance runs in the seventh.
Blankenship walked, went to second on an errant pickoff throw and moved up on Hankins’ base hit. Kidd followed with a two-run single.
Smith and Seth Nichols each had a diving catch in the outfield with Nichols’ play ending up as an inning-ending double play.
“That was a big win for us. We were down four runs and three of the runs were unearned. We just kept battling back and played good defense after the fourth inning,” said Litteral.
Rock Hill 000 500 2 = 7 6 2
Huntington 040 000 0 = 4 5 2
Nick Blankenship and Kaleb Kidd. Trey Straub, Andrew Legg (4), Bolsey (6), Beckett (7) and Ethan Proctor. W-Blankenship (K-3, BB-5, HBP-2). L-Straub. Hitting-RH: Logan Hankins 2-4 2B, Kaleb Kidd 1-4, Kadin France 2-4, Seth Nichols 1-4; HHS: Jordan Walker 1-3, Evan Juniper 1-2, Jonathan Carter 1-3, Ethan Proctor 2-3.