Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

CHESAPEAKE — In the words of The Beatles, “It’s getting better all the time.”
That’s seems to be the case for the Chesapeake Panthers who beat the Portsmouth Trojans 6-4 in an Ohio Valley Conference game on Monday.
Travis Grim and A.J. Littreal combined on a six-hitter for the Panthers who made just one error.
“(Monday) was big for us. We made only one error,” said Panthers’ coach Justin Davis.
“Travis continues to do a good job and A.J. came in and did a nice job. We’re getting good pitching and good defense. If we keep doing that, we’ll be fine.”
Grim went 4.1 innings for the win. He struck out four, walked five and gave up one earned run. Littreal worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the fifth and then finished up for the save.
The Panthers (4-12, 4-5) went up in the first when Trent Dearth walked, stole second and Thomas Sentz singled him home.
Portsmouth tied the game in the second when Jack Workman doubled, moved up on a ground out and score on Roe’s base hit.
Chesapeake then took the lead with three runs in the third.
Austin Browning walked, stole second and scored on a hit by Dearth. After Dearth stole second, Sentz had an RBI single and then he scored on a two-out single by Jonah Ridenour.
The lead went to 6-1 in the fourth with two outs.
Dearth and Sentz singled and Grim had a two-run double.
The Panthers had nine hits with Sentz 3-3 and Dearth 2-2.
Portsmouth 010 000 1 = 2 6 0
Chesapeake 103 200 x = 6 9 1
Daewin Spence, Danny Lattimore (4) and Caeleb McGraw. Travis Grim, A.J. Littreal (6) and Jonah Ridenour. W-Grim (IP-4.1, R-1, ER-1, K-4, BB-5). L-Spence. Hitting-PHS: Bryce Wallace 2-3, Caeleb McGraw 1-3, William Sturgill 1-4, Jack Workman 1-2, Drew Roe 1-3; Chesy: Trent Dearth 2-2, Thomas Sentz 3-3, Travis Grim 1-3 2B, Jonah Ridenour 1-2, Devin Stevens 1-3, Levi Best 1-3.