Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — This game proved to be aces.
The Green Bobcats’ Tanner Kimbler outpitched the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans C.J. Corns in a battle of ace pitchers on Friday.
Kimbler threw a three-hitter, struck out 14 and didn’t walk a batter as the Bobcats got a 3-0 Southern Ohio Conference win.
Corns also gave up three hits and struck out 14 but walked three with two scoring.
“Corns kept us off-balance with his fastball and breaking ball. It was a true pitcher’s duel and our pitcher came out on top. But Kimbler was pretty good, too. He threw the ball well,” said Green coach Dan McDavid.
The Bobcats (3-1, 1-0) got the only run they really needed in the third inning when Kimbler walked with one out, stole second and scored on a hit by Bryce Ponn.
The lead went to 2-0 in the fifth inning.
Mason Barber walked, stole second, went to third when Trevor Darnell grounded out and Barber scored on a throwing error.
The final run scored in the sixth as Rylee Maynard singled, stole second and scored on a two-out double by Ponn.
“Ponn had a nice game. We only had three hits and he had two of them and drove in two runs,” said McDavid.
Ponn was 2-3 with a double and two runs batted in.
The Bobcats host Notre Dame on Monday.
Green          000    111    0    =    3    3    1
Notre Dame    000    000    0    =    0    3    1
Tanner Kimbler and Mason Barber. C.J. Corns and Ethan Kammer. W-Kimbler (K-14, BB-0). L-Corns (K-14, BB-3). Hitting-Green: Rylee Maynard 1-3, Bryce Ponn 2-3 2B 2-rbi; PND: Tyler Speas 1-3, Ethan Kammer 1-3, Jake McGuire 1-3.