Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

The St. Joseph Flyers did a lot with very little.

The Flyers managed just four hits but got them at the right time as they beat the Sciotoville East Tartans 5-4 on Saturday in the Division IV sectional tournament semifinals.

“Our kids did a great job battling. We only had four hits but we made them all count. We squeezed every last drop out of that orange,” said Flyers’ coach Lou Mains.

Clay Willis struck out nine and walked just one in 5.2 innings. Isaac Whaley went 1.1 innings for the save.

“Clay threw the ball pretty well. He threw strikes and just battled them the whole game. He did a great job,” said Mains.

St. Joseph (5-10) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning.

Seth Kelly was hit by a pitch, Chase Walters singled and Zac McGraw doubled to drive in both runners.

Tyler Ward walked, Payton Adkins hit into a fielder’s choice to drive in McGraw. Gage Butler singled to drive in Ward with the fourth run.

East got a pair of runs in the third.

Winston singled, a walk and Brady Douthat’s two-run double.

The Flyers scored what proved to be the winning run in the fourth inning.

With one out, Butler walked, stole second, went to third on Willis’ sacrifice bunt and Trey Ward singled home Butler.

The Tartans got two more runs in the sixth when Douthat, Bailey, Lambert and Lennox all singled.

Drew Lowe singled with two outs in the sixth and stole second. Whaley came on in relief and shut down East the rest of the way to preserve the win.

“Isaac throws the ball well,” said Mains.

St. Joseph will play at Portsmouth Notre Dame on Tuesday in the sectional finals.

Sciotoville 002 002 0 = 4 8 1

St. Joseph 400 100 x = 5 4 1

Akia Brown and Lambert. Clay Willis, Isaac Whaley (7) and Zac McGraw. W-Willis (IP-5.2, K-9, BB-1). Save-Whaley (IP-1.1). L-Brown (K-7, BB-2, HBP-1). Hitting-East: Brady Douthat 3-4, Bailey 2-3; SJ: Chase Walters 1-3, Zac McGraw 1-3 2B, Gage Butler 1-2, Trey Ward 1-2.