Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

PORTSMOUTH — It was everything expected for the two unbeaten Southern Ohio Conference leaders.
The Portsmouth Clay Panthers edged the Green Bobcats 1-0 in 10 innings on Wednesday in a showdown for first place. Clay is now 16-2 and 9-0 in the SOC while Green is 16-2 and 8-1.
The two teams meet Friday at Green.
The Bobcats had nine hits but stranded 12 runners.
“We had a bunch of opportunities but didn’t get the hit when we needed,” said Green coach Dan McDavid.
“We played good defense and they played good defense. It was a well-played game by both teams. We just came up on the short end.”
Tanner Kimbler went nine innings for Green. He struck out six and walked one. He has yet to allow a run all season.
Dakota Dodds went the distance for Clay. He struck out 10, walked two and hit two while giving up nine hits.
In the Clay 10th inning, Tanner Richards led off with a walk and Evan Woods put down a sacrifice.
Clay Cottle was walked intentionally but Reece Whitley singled off pitcher Bryce Ponn’s glove to load the bases.
Jaden Jessee singled against the pulled-in infield to scored Richards and end the game.
Green had two big defensive plays that forced the game into extra innings.
Clay threatened in the bottom of the sixth when Cottle singled, moved up on a ground out and tried to score on a hit by Jessee only to be thrown out at home by rightfielder Ethan Carpenter.
In the ninth, Jessee singled, was sacrificed to second and Shaden Malone singled, but leftfielder Trevor Darnell threw the runner out at the plate.
A collision at the plate on the play forced Jessee and Bobcats’ catcher Mason Barber out of the game.
Kimbler had thrown only 102 pitches but was forced to switch position since he is the Bobcats’ backup catcher.
Green was led at the plate by Tayte Carver who was 2-4 and Kimbler who went 2-5.
Green 000 000 000 0 = 0 9 0
Ports. Clay 000 000 000 1 = 1 11 1
Tanner Kimbler, Bryce Ponn (10) and Mason Barber, Tanner Kimbler (10). Dakota Dodds and Reece Whitley. W-Dodds (K-10, BB-2, HBP-2). L-Ponn (IP-1.0, ER-1, H-2, BB-2). Kimbler (IP-9.0, H-9, K-6, BB-1). Hitting-Green: Eli Webb 1-5, Tanner Kimbler 2-5, Tayte Caver 2-4, Bryce Ponn 1-5 2B, Levi Singleton 1-4, Mason Barber 1-3, Trevor Darnell 1-3; Clay: Clay Cottle 4-4 2-2B, Reece Whitley 1-5, Jaden Jessee 3-5 rbi, Dakota Dodds 1-3, Brad McCleese 1-4 2B, Shaden Malone 1-4.