Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CHESAPEAKE — Justin Davis doesn’t like yo-yos.

The Chesapeake coach has seen his team lose two-run leads in the top of the seventh inning two games in a row, but then watched as the Panthers got a run in the bottom of the inning to win.

The Panthers’ yo-yo play gave them a 3-2 Ohio Valley Conference win over the Portsmouth Trojans on Wednesday.

“I’m disappointed we keep giving up the lead. The good thing is (Jamey) Mills pitched himself into spots but he pitched himself out of spots,” said Davis.

“We should have scored more and if we don’t make six errors it isn’t that close, but we battled through it.”

Mills started and teamed with Kelton Jones on a one-hitter with Jones getting the win in relief.

Down 3-1, the Trojans had runners at second and third with two outs when a fly ball got caught in the wind and was dropped allowing the tying runs to score.

But the Panthers got their own gift in the bottom of the inning when Austin Browning walked, stole second and third and came home when the throw to third base went into left field.

Portsmouth got a run in the first but the Panthers took the lead in the bottom of the inning on singles by Kolton Webb and Dakota Blankenship, a hit batsman and Kobe McWhorter’s two-run double.

The lead went up 3-1 in the second with one out when Jones singled and Casey McComas doubled.

“We had seven guys get hits, so that’s a good thing that we’re spreading out hits through the lineup,” said Davis.

“I’m happy with the depth in our lineup. I feel we can hit one through nine.”

Chesapeake visits Ironton on Friday.

Portsmouth 100 000 2 = 3 1 0

Chesapeake 210 000 1 = 4 9 7

Ryan Williams and Zach Delotell. Jamey Mills, Kelton Jones (5) and Blake Ashworth. W-Jones (IP-2.1, K-3, BB-1, R-2, ER-0). Mills (IP-4.2, K-3, BB-5, HBP-3). L-Williams (K-11, BB-4, HBP-1). Hitting-Chesapeake: Casey McComas 2B. Dakota Blankenship 2-3.