Cody Leist

PDT Sports Writer

ASHLAND, Ky.— No group may be thankful for a day off more than the pitching staff of the Portsmouth Post 23 baseball team.

Running out whoever can offer up innings, Post 23 was not able to win the first of road doubleheader with Ashland (Ky.) Post 76 at Ernie Chattin Field as the final went 10-0 in six innings. The nightcap was not completed at press time.

It was a fairly easy day in the opener for 76ers starter Connor Robinson, who scattered just four hits while recording eight hits and two walks in a complete game shutout. His counterpart, Philip Cassidy, didn’t have as fortunate outing as he w roughed up for six of the 10 runs in five innings of work. He issued five free passes and fanned a pair.

Post 76 took the lead in the third when J.D. Pridemore’s attempt at a sacrifice bunt turned into an error when Cassidy’s attempt to throw him out went beyond the reach of Austin Howard and allowed Sam Holder to score from first. The 76ers went on to score five in the fifth and knock Cassidy from the mound.

The only person to have any type of success against Robinson was Alex Shears, who went 1-for-1 with a double and two walks. Howard, Daulton Kenyon and Brady Johnson accounted for the other three hits.

Post 23 will travel Friday to Chillicothe for the Jim Jadwin Memorial Tournament.

Cody Leist can be reached at 353-3101, ext. 294, or cleist@civitasmedia.com. For breaking sports news, follow Cody on Twitter @CodyLeist.

Game 1

Portsmouth 23 000 000 — 0 4 1

Ashland (Ky.) 76 001 054 — 10 13 0

Portsmouth 23—Kenyon 1-3 (2B), Shears 1-1 (2B, 2 BB), Howard 1-2, Johnson 1-2.

Ashland 76—Holder 1-2 (2 BB, 2 R), Pridemore 1-3 (2B, SAC, R), Robinson 2-3 (2 2B, 2 R), Thompson 2-4 (2 R), Hall 3-4 (2 R), `Brown 1-4, Hutchinson 1-1 (2B, 3 BB), Slone 2-4 (2B), Williams 0-2 (BB, R).

W—Robinson (n/a)

L—Cassidy (0-2)

Records—Post 23 6-10; Post 76 n/a.

Wayne Allen

PDT Staff Writer

The Portsmouth Area Chamber of Commerce will present it’s next “breakfast on us” in corporation with the Center for Appalachian Philanthropy and Main Street Portsmouth.

The breakfast will feature muralist Robert Dafford as he discusses murals on the Portsmouth Flood wall and his current project.

“We felt like since Robert is here and we really have not spent a lot of time in the community showcasing one of our greatest assets, the murals,” said Mandilyn Hart Executive Director, Center for Appalachian Philanthropy. “Robert is such a wonderful artist and is great to work with. He is always ready to sign autographs and visit with the community.”

Hart said Dafford is currently working on a mural dedicated to the Portsmouth Public Library on the side of the Scioto County Welcome Center.

“It just made a lot of sense to invite Dafford to be apart of this event. Afterwards we are going to talk about opportunities to use the murals to help with economic development in downtown Portsmouth,” Hart said. “Scott (Moore, President of Main Street Portsmouth) and I are going to share stories of how Paducah, Ky. has used their murals to increase tourism to a point where their annual revenue are phenomenal.”

Hart said time will be spent asking questions on what the community can do, what existing opportunities are, what roles the murals play in economic development and various other aspects.

When asked if the murals are currently being underutilized within the community, Hart said, “I think there are some attempts to do some wonderful things with the murals, but we’ve only got a few drops in the bucket and we have a bucket full of opportunity that we just need to engage people in.”

The event will take place on June 20 at 8 a.m. at the Scioto County Welcome Center. The event is free of charge and breakfast will be served.

Wayne Allen may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 228, or tallen@civitasmedia.com. For breaking news, follow Wayne on Twitter @WayneallenPDT.

ADKINS

CANAL WINCHESTER – Betty F. Adkins, 59, of Canal Winchester, formerly of Ironton, passed away Monday, June 10, 2013.

Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Monday, June 24, 2013, in Woodland Cemetery. There will be no public visitation. Phillips Funeral Home of Ironton is handling the arrangements.

MCCANN

LUCASVILLE – Danny Ray McCann, 57, Lucasville, died Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at his home.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, June 22, 2013, at Mount Olive Community Church. Interment will be in Mount Olive Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Howe Wheeler Boyer Hornback Funeral Home in Piketon and one-half hour before the service on Saturday at the church.

JOHNSON

PROCTORVILLE – Elmer L. Johnson, 82, of Proctorville, passed away Monday, June 17, 2013, at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington, W.Va.

Funeral service will be 3 p.m. Friday, June 21, 2013, at Phillips Funeral Home in Ironton. Interment will be at Sugar Creek Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 3 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.