Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

FRANKLIN FURNACE — Shawn McFann and Tanner Kimbler were matching each other pitch for pitch.

That’s when the Rock Hill Redmen decided to stop the match game.

Rock Hill broke open a 2-1 game with three runs in the seventh inning as the Redmen opened the season with a 5-1 win over the Green Bobcats on Monday.

“For the first ballgame, I thought it was pretty well played,” said Rock Hill coach Barry Litteral.

McFann went six innings to get the win. He struck out five, walked one and gave up just three hits.

Kimbler went the distance in taking the loss. He fanned five, walked two and gave up two earned runs and four hits.

“It was a well-pitched game by both pitchers. McFann pitched a whale of a game and Kimbler pitched heck of a game, too,” said Green coach Dan McDavid.

Tayte Carver and Josh Karshner both doubled to put Green up 1-0 in the first inning.

But McFann settle down and held the Bobcats scoreless the next five innings. Cody Lewis pitched a scoreless seventh.

Rock Hill tied the game in the third when Landon Smith reached on an error, moved up on Trey Crabtree’s sacrifice bunt, took third on a ground out and scored on a balk.

The Redmen took the lead in the fourth when Lewis reached on a two-out error, went to second on a passed ball and came home on hit by Kaleb Kidd.

Rock Hill got three insurance runs in the seventh.

With two outs, Jake Blagg walked and Heath Carpenter doubled. McFann then singled home both runners for a 4-1 lead. Brandon Schob was safe on an error that allowed McFann to score.

The two teams meet again Tuesday at Green.

Rock Hill 001 100 3 = 5 4 2

Green 100 000 0 = 1 3 8

Shawn McFann, Cody Lewis (7) and Kaleb Kidd. Tanner Kimbler and Trevor Carver. W-McFann (K-5, BB-1). L-Kimbler (K-5, BB-2, 2-ER). Hitting-RH: Heath Carpenter 1-4 2B, Shawn McFann 1-4 rbi-2, Kaleb Kidd 1-3 rbi, Landon Smith 1-3; Green: Tanner Kimbler 1-4, Tayte Carver 1-3 2B, Josh Karshner 1-3 2B rbi.