By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

ASHTON, W.Va. — The St. Joseph Flyers were better, but not enough to satisfy their coach.

The Flyers pounded out nine hits and stole five bases as they rolled past the Hannan Wildcats 15-5 in six innings Tuesday.

“We got several pitchers some work, we hit the ball and we ran the bases well,” said Flyers’ coach Greg Bryant. “We still have a lot of room for improvement.”

Justin Mahlmeister went 2-3 with a home run and four runs batted in while T.J. Young was 2-3 with two doubles and four RBI. Tanner Riley went 2-2, stole three bases and drove in two runs.

Riley and Mahlmeister walked and scored on a double by Young as the Flyers jumped out to a 2-0 win in the first inning.

Hannan got three runs in the bottom of the inning and one in the second to lead 4-2, but the Flyers scored five times in the third inning to take the lead for good.

Levi Hopkins and Riley singled, Mahlmeister walked and Young had another two-run double.

Cody Blackburn squeezed in a run, Luke McGraw hit a sacrifice fly and the final run scored on a throw to first base by the catcher following a dropped third strike.

A run scored in the fourth when Riley and Young walked and Blackburn reached on an error.

Three runs scored in the fifth to make it 11-4.

Payton Blair drew a one-out walk, stole second and scored when Hopkins reached on an error. A wild pitch sent Hopkins to third and Riley hit a sacrifice fly that was dropped allowing him to reach second base. Mahlmeister capped the rally with an RBI single.

In the sixth, Joseph Payton singled, Hopkins walked and Riley had an RBI single. Mahlmeister ended the rally again with a three-run homer.

The Flyers (2-0) host Sciotoville East on Thursday. Elliott County cancelled today’s game.

St. Joseph 205 134 = 15 9 3

Hannan 310 001 = 5 4 4

Cody Blackburn, T.J. Young (4), Justin Mahlmeister (6) and Mahlmeister, Young (6). Jerry Diaz, Daniel Reynolds (4) and Tyler Jenkins. W-Blackburn (K-4, BB-5). L-Diaz. 2B-St. Joseph: T.J. Young 2, Luke McGraw; Hannan: Jenkins. HR-St. Joseph: Justin Mahlmeister. Hitting-St. Joseph: Levi Hopkins 1-4, Tanner Riley 2-2 2-rbi, Justin Mahlmeister 2-3 4-rbi, T.J. Young 2-3 4-rbi, Luke McGraw 1-2, Joseph Payton 1-3; Hannan: Jerry Diaz 1-4, Tyler Jenkins 1-3, James Brumfield 2-3.