Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

Easter is 10 days away, but the St. Joseph Flyers must have thought it was Christmas.

The Flyers had six errors that led to seven unearned runs as they lost 7-1 to the Chesapeake Panthers on Thursday.

“(Chesapeake) put the ball in play, but we gave them all of their runs. Our pitchers threw strikes and that is all we asked of them. We just need to make the plays defensively,” said Flyers’ coach Brent Wirzfield.

The Flyers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Joseph Payton singled, stole second, took third on a passed ball and scored on an RBI single by Cole Willis.

But the Panthers scored five runs in the second inning to take the lead.

With one out, Kolton Webb reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second, went to third on a ground out and scored when Austin Stone reached on an error.

Stone stole second and scored on a hit by Casey McComas. Jacob Henson was safe on an error and the runners moved up on a throwing error. Blake Lester singled to drive in a run and then stole second.

Dakota Hutchinson followed with a two-run single.

The Panthers added two more runs in the third inning.

With two outs, Jacob Eddy reached on an error, Stone hit a bloop single and McComas walked. Henson then delivered a two-run single.

Hutchinson went five innings to get the win. Stone was 2-4 to lead the offense.

Payton was 2-4 for St. Joseph (1-4).

The Flyers play a three-team doubleheader at Whiteoak on Saturday.

Chesapeake 052 000 0 = 7 7 0

St. Joseph 100 000 0 = 1 4 6

Dakota Hutchinson, Jacob Henson (6), Koby McWhorter (7) and Derek Morris. Bradley Rist, Trey Neal (3) and Hunter Pemberton, Zach McGraw (3). W-Hutchinson (K-4, BB-1). L-Rist (IP-2.2, K-4, BB-4, ER-0, R-7). Neal (IP-4.1, K-1, BB-1). Hitting-Chesapeake: Casey McComas 1-3, Jacob Henson 1-3, Blake Lester 1-2, Dakota Hutchinson 1-4, Bobby Arthur 1-3, Austin Stone 2-4; St. Joseph: Joseph Payton 2-3, Chris Lewis 1-2, Cole Willis 1-3.