Flyers take advantage of walks
Published 12:00 am Thursday, April 24, 2008
WEST UNION — Give the St. Joseph Flyers some baserunners and they’ll score at will.
The Flyers had seven hits and took advantage of 13 walks and four errors to beat the West Union Dragons 15-7 Tuesday.
“We were very patient at the plate. We hit the ball well and took advantage of our opportunities,” said Flyers coach Greg Bryant. “We’re a very young and inexperienced team, so I was pleased with how we played.”
After West Union took a 5-0 lead in the fourth inning, St. Joseph’s offense came to life with 12 runs in the fifth.
Dylan Klein walked, Cody Blackburn was hit b a pitch, and Payton Blair reached on an error to load the bases. Pat Gagai, Chad Harvey, and Caleb Blackburn all walked to force in three runs.
Jerrod Laber singled in a run, and Joseph “The Shoe” Unger and Klein walked to force in two more runs.
A balk scored another run and Cody Blackburn singled in two. Blair singled and the runners moved up on a throwing error. Gagai and Harvey walked for a run and Caleb Blackburn had a two-run single to cap the uprising.
The Dragons got single runs in the fifth and sixth innings before the Flyers scored three in the seventh.
Blair walked, Gagai singled him to third and then stole second. Harvey reached on an error to score a run and then stole second. Laber capped the scoring with a two-run single.
Caleb Blackburn got the win as he struck out 14, walked four and gave up seven hits. Levi Hopkins retired one batter in the fourth and Blackburn returned in the fifth.
“Caleb pitched well expect for one stretch and Levi Hopkins came in and got us out of a jam. Caleb came back in and was pretty much in control,” said Bryant.
Laber was 3-5 to lead the Flyers offense.
St. Joseph (5-3) visits South Gallia Wednesday.
St. Joseph0000(12)03=1571
West Union0005110=774
Caleb Blackburn, Levi Hopkins (4), Caleb Blackburn (5) and Pat Gagai. B. Grooms, McCune (5), Staggs (5), Brandon Grooms (6) and C. Mack. W-Blackburn (14-K, 4-BB). L-B. Grooms. 2B-St. Joseph: Jerrod Laber: WU: C. Samples, C. Mack. 3B-WU: Staggs. HR-WU: Brady Grooms. Hitting-St. Joseph: Payton Blair 1-3, Pat Gagai 1-3, Caleb Blackburn 1-3, Jerrod Laber 3-5, Cody Blackburn 1-3; West Union: C. Mack 1-4, Griffin 2-4, Staggs 1-4, Crask 1-4, Brady Grooms 1-3, Samples 1-2.