Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CHESAPEAKE — On a scale of one to 10, it wasn’t a 10 but it wasn’t a one, either.
The Rock Hill Redmen may not have had their best game, but it was still pretty good as they beat the Chesapeake Panthers 5-2 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Thursday.
“We had opportunities, we just didn’t get the key hit to blow it open,” said Redmen coach Barry Litteral.
“But Nick threw well but he hurt his back. The only baserunner they had was on an error. He did a nice job and Seth came in and threw strikes and got the save.”
Nick Blankenship went 4.2 innings before an injury forced him out of the game. He struck out five and did not allow a hit or a walk.
Seth Nichols took over and notched the save.
The Redmen (8-3, 4-1) got a run in the second when Kaleb Kidd and Kadin France singled, Landon Smith put down a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch scored Kidd.
Rock Hill pushed across three runs in the third to lead 4-0.
Braydon Friends walked, stole second and scored on a double by Logan Hankins. Kidd was safe on an error, stole second and France had a two-run single.
The fifth run scored in the fourth when Jordan Griffith walked, stole second, took third on a throwing error and came home on a hit by Friend.
The Panthers (1-9, 1-4) scored their two runs in the bottom of the seventh with two outs.
A.J. Litteral was hit by a pitch, John Marshall walked and both scored on a double by Levi Best. But Nichols got a ground out to first base to end the game.
Travis Grimm and Thomas Sentz shared the pitching duties for the Panthers. They allowed seven hits with two walks and no strikeouts.
“We’re competing and we’re cutting down on our mistakes,” said Panthers’ coach Justin Davis.
Rock Hill 013 100 0 = 5 7 1
Chesapeake 000 000 2 = 2 2 3
Nick Blankenship, Seth Nichols (5) and Kaleb Kidd. Travis Grimm, Thomas Sentz (4) and Jonah Ridenour. W-Blankenship (IP-4.2, H-0, K-5, BB-0). Save-Nichols (IP-2.1, H-2, ER-2, K-0, BB-3, HBP-1). L-Grimm (IP-3.0, H-4, R-4, K-0, BB-2). Sentz (IP-3.0, H-3, R-1). Hitting-RH: Jake Blagg 1-4, Logan Hankins 2-4 2B, Kaleb Kidd 1-4, Kadin France 2-4, Braydon Friend 1-2; Chesy: Thomas Sentz 1-3, Levi Best 1-3 2B 2-rbi.