Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

MOWRYSTOWN — The Rock Hill Redmen broke even.
The Redmen went 1-1 in the Whiteoak Classic on Saturday as they lost the first game to Hillsboro 8-2 and won the second game against Bethel-Tate 7-2.
“We played two pretty good teams. You’d like to win them both, but we got a split,” said Rock Hill coach Barry Litteral.
The Redmen (6-3) hurt themselves in the first game by issuing 10 walks to the Indians.
“We just didn’t play well in the first game and we walked too many batters,” said Litteral. “We hit the ball well, but right at them. Seth (Nichols) did a nice job in relief.”
After Hillsboro got two runs in the top of the first, Nick Blankenship and Logan Hankins doubled as Rock Hill got a run in the bottom of the inning.
The Indians scored four runs in the second and two in the third to lead 8-1.
The Redmen got a run in the seventh when Braydon Friend walked and scored on an infield hit by Jake Blagg and a throwing error.
In the second game, the Redmen took advantage of seven walks to go with four hits as they beat Bethel-Tate behind the five-hit pitching of Isaiah McFann.
McFann struck out one and walked two in going the distance.
“He threw the ball well and we played good defense behind him,” said Litteral.
Bethel-Tate got a run in the top of the first only to have Rock Hill score four runs in the bot
Blagg reached on an error, Nichols put down a sacrifice and a throwing error put runners at second and third. Hankins singled home Blagg, Friend hit a sacrifice fly, Blankenship walked and Hankins went to third on a wild pitch.
Hankins scored when Blankenship got into a rundown. The ball got past the catcher and Blankenship raced home.
The lead went to 5-1 in the fourth.
McFann walked, Jordan Griffith put down a sacrifice, courtesy runner Landon Smith stole third and scored on a wild pitch.
Rock Hill tacked on two runs in the sixth.
Griffith singled, Blagg walked, Nichols grounded out to score a run and then Hankins singled in the final run.
Hankins was 2-4 in the second game.
First Game
Hillsboro 242 000 0 = 8 9 2
Rock Hill 100 000 1 = 2 4 0
Watson, Miller (6) and Thompson. Nick Blankenship, Seth Nichols (3) and Kaleb Kidd. W-Watson (IP-5.0, K-5, BB-5). Miller (IP-2.0, K-2). L-Blankenship (IP-2.0, H-7, R-7, ER-7, H-7, K-1, BB-6). Nichols (IP-5.0, H-2, R-1, ER-0, K-7, BB-4). Hitting-HHS: Watson 1-4, Cole 2-4, Thompson 1-4, Boone 1-3, Magulal 1-3 2B, Scott 1-3, Harless 2-3; RH: Jake Blagg 1-4, Nick Blankenship 1-3, Logan Hankins 1-4 2B, Kadin France 1-3.
——
Second Game
Bethel-Tate 100 000 1 = 2 5 4
Rock Hill 400 102 x = 7 4 0
Kilgore, Day (3), Clemats (5), Keiner (6) and Lee. Isaiah McFann and Seth Nichols. W-McFann (K-1, BB-2). L-Kilgore. Hitting-BT: White 1-3, Day 1-3, Kilgore 1-3 2B, Clemats 1-3, Lee 1-3; RH: Logan Hankins 2-4, Nick Blankenship 1-1, Jordan Griffith 1-3.