By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

CHESAPEAKE — Brandon Barker proved it’s not how you start but how you finish.

Barker’s first inning was a nightmare. He walked three, gave up two hits and four runs.

But he settled down the rest of the game and the Ironton Fighting Tigers rallied to edge the Chesapeake Panthers 7-6 Thursday.

“Brandon threw 40 pitches in the first inning and he didn’t look like he’d last long. But he found his rhythm and threw 40 pitches the rest of the game,” said Ironton coach Tobey Schreck.

Ironton (2-1) had 11 hits with Jonthan Williams going 3-5 with a double to pace the offense. Jordan McMaster was 2-3 and Steve Easterling 2-4.

Les Counts and Simeon Combs doubled for the Panthers (0-3).

Combs walked to start the Panthers’ first inning, stole second and scored when Jake Lewis had a two-out single.

Brandon Noble and Tommy Noble walked, an error scored Lewis and Counts doubled home two runs.

Ironton tied the game in the third inning.

Tyler Salyers walked and Easterling and Williams singled for a run. Easterling scored on the relay throw and Williams came to third on an error.

Nick Culbertson was hit by a pitch, Brandon Leach walked and Trey Spencer was hit by a pitch forcing in a run.

McMaster walked, Culbertson doubled and an outfield error scored a run as Ironton took a 5-4 lead in the fifth.

Each team got a run in the sixth and seventh innings.

In Ironton’s sixth, Williams and McMaster doubled for a run. The Panthers scored on walks to Mikey Walters and Seth Skeens, a sacrifice bunt by Combs and a wild pitch.

Pierce Reeves walked, Easterling was safe on an error and Williams singled as Ironton scored in the top of the seventh.

The Panthers got the run back in the bottom of the inning when Lewis walked, moved up on a wild pitch and passed ball and scored on Tommy Noble’s sacrifice fly.

Barker struck out the next batter to end the game.

The Fighting Tigers play Ashland on Friday, weather and field conditions permitting. If the game is at Ironton, it will be at 5 p.m. The game will start at approximately 7 p.m. if at Ashland.

Ironton 004 011 1 = 7 11 1

Chesapeake 400 001 1 = 6 6 4

Brandon Barker and Steve Easterling. Brandon Noble, Steve Zimmerman (6) and Tommy Noble. W-Barker (K-3, BB-7). L-B. Noble (K-4, BB-8). 2B-Ironton: Steve Easterling, Jonathan Williams, Nick Culbertson; Chesapeake: Les Counts, Simeon Combs. Hitting-Ironton: Tyler Salyers 1-4, Steve Easterling 2-4, Jonathan Williams 3-5, Jordan McMaster 2-3, Nick Culbertson 1-2, Sean Lawless 1-4, Brandon Leach 1-2; Chesapeake: Simeon Combs 1-2, Hunter Bare 1-4, Jake Lewis 1-3, Brandon Noble 1-3, Tommy Noble 1-2, Les Counts 1-4.