Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PORTSMOUTH — Look what I found.

St. Joseph Flyers’ coach Brent Wirzfeld decided to give tyler Ward a start and found a diamond in the rough.

In his first career start as a pitcher, Ward scattered eight hits, struck out two and walked three in going the distance as the Flyers got their first win over the season by beating the Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans 8-3 on Thursday.

“It was all on him. He did a heck of a job,” said Wirzfeld. “I told him all he had to do was throw strikes and he threw a lot of strikes. If he got down in the count, he kept battling and came back.”

The Flyers (1-3) had eight hits led by Cole Willis who went 3-for-3. Peyton Adkins was 2-2, Daniel Davidson 1-2 with a double, Jacob Clark 1-3 and Ward 1-4.

“It was a good team effort. It all came together. We didn’t make a bunch of errors like in our other games and we got a lot of timely hits,” said Wirzfeld.

Notre Dame got a run in the bottom of the first inning, but the Flyers answered with four runs in the second.

Adkins singled and Clark reached when his sacrifice bunt was misplayed. Davidson was hit by a pitch and Tre Neal walked to force in the tying run.

Willis singled home two runs and Chris Lewis grounded out as the final run scored.

St. Joseph got a run in the top of the third when Adkins singled, stole second and Davidson doubled him home.

Notre Dame cut the deficit to 5-2 in the bottom of the inning and added a run in the fifth to make it 5-3.

But the Flyers scored three insurance runs in the sixth.

Zack Kelley and Adkins walked, Clark beat out an infield hit, Davidson was hit by a pitch to score a run and Neal hit into a fielder’s choice that scored two runs.

Hayden Baker, Brandon Lansing and Tyler Speas all went 2-3 for the Titans.

The Flyers visit Sciotoville East in a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday.

St. Joseph 041 003 0 = 8 8 2

Notre Dame 101 010 0 = 3 8 3

Tyler Ward and Tre Ward. C.J. Corns, Drew Cassidy (4), Tyler Speas (6) and Billy Book. W-Ward (K-2, BB-3). L Corns. Hitting—SJ: Cole Willis 3-5, Tyler Ward 1-4, Peyton Adkins 2-2, Daniel Davidson 1-2 2B, Jacob Clark 1-3; PND: Drew Cassidy 1-3, Hayden Baker 2-3, Brandon Lansing 2-3, Tyler Speas 2-3, Grant Sparks 1-3.