Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

That’s how you return from a layoff.
Following a nine-day layoff due to a spring trip to Europe, the St. Joseph Flyers were right back at it with three games over the weekend.
On Friday, the Flyers shut out the Sciotoville East Tartans 10-0 in five innings and then edged the Fairview Eagles 2-1.
On Saturday, St. Joseph rolled past the Elliot County Lions 16-6 in five innings.
Clay Willis pitched a three-hitter as the Flyers beat East. Willis struck out 11 of the 15 outs and walked just one.
“Willis had a nine-day layoff but it didn’t seem to bother him. He got ahead in the count and didn’t give any free passes. He pitched really well,” said Flyers’ coach Greg Bryant.
“For the first game back, we hit the ball well and played well in the field.”
The Flyers had 12 hits in the win as Chase Walters went 3-3 with a double while Chase Wilds, Jackson Rowe and Jimmy Mahlmeister were all 2-3.
The Flyers (5-2) got a run in the first on a double by Walters and Trae Crabtree reached on an error.
St. Joseph used a walk, a hit batsman, two errors and hits by Mahlmeister, Rowe and Walters to score five runs in the second.
The Flyers got four more runs in the fourth when Willis, Walters, Rowe, J.C. Damron and Mahlmeister all singled to go along with an error.
The Flyers beat Fairview as each team managed just one hit.
Isaac Whaley went the distance and struck out 15 while walking two. The only hit was by Terrick Smith leading off the game.
Bradon Wilburn worked five innings for the Eagles in taking the loss. He struck out eight, walked two, hit three and gave up a double by Willis.
“Isaac threw the ball really well. He got stronger as the game went on,” said Bryant. “Both pitchers threw well. We got two runs without a hit so we were able to take advantage of their mistakes.”
Walters was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored when Crabtree reached on a two-out error as the Flyers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
Fairview (4-8) got a run in the bottom of the inning when Smith singled, went to third on a wild pitch and passed ball, and scored when Dylan Wamsley grounded out.
The Flyers got the winning run in the fifth.
Mahlmeister walked, stole second, took third on a wild pitch and then scored on a throwing error.
Whaley had strikeouts for the final six outs.
On Saturday, the Flyers racked up 13 hits with Rowe going 3-4 with a double, Crabtree 2-3 with two doubles, Whaley and Walters each 2-3 with a double, and Willis 2-3.
“Our guys are starting to hit the ball. The top of our order hit the ball really well. They went 11-for-16. When they do that, you’ve got a chance to win,” said Bryant.
“Jimmy Mahlmeister coming in to pitch two perfect innings was big for us. We’re going to need some of these young kids to step up with the games we’ve got coming up.”
After Elliott County got a run in the top of the first, the Flyers exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the inning to take command.
Rowe singled, stole second, Willis singled and Whaley had an RBI double. Walters singled in two runs, Crabtree walked, a wild pitch and passed ball scored a run, Damron had an RBI single, Rowe singled in a run and Willis was safe on an error to score the final run.
The Flyers hosts Fairview at 5 p.m. Monday.
Friday’s First Game
Sciotoville    000    00    =    0    3    3
St. Joseph    150    4x    =    10    12    0
Bailey, Winston (4) and Queen. Clay Willis and Jackson Rowe. W-Willis (K-11, BB-1). L-Bailey. Hitting-East: Queen 2-2, Shope 1-2; SJ: Chase Walters 3-3 2B, Chase Wilds 2-3, Jackson Rowe 2-3, Jimmy Mahlmeister 2-3, J.C. Damron 1-2, Clay Willis 1-3, Trae Crabtree 1-3.
Friday’s Second Game
St. Joseph    100    010    0    =    2    1    2
Fairview    100    000    0    =    1    1    2
Isaac Whaley and Jimmy Mahlmeister. Bradon Wilburn, Benton (6) and Dylan Wamsley. W-Whaley (K-15, BB-2). L-Wilburn (IP-5.0, K-8, BB-2, HBP-3). Hitting- SJ: Clay Willis 1-3 2B; Fairview: Terrick Smith 1-2.
Saturday’s Game
Elliott Co.    150    00    =    6    3    3
St. Joseph    814    3x    =    16    13    1
Hunter Lyons, Nathaniel Buckner (3) and Kaden Buck. Chase Wilds, Jimmy Mahlmeister, Jackson Rowe (5) and Jackson Rowe, Jimmy Mahlmeister (5). W-Mahlmeister (IP-2.0, K-4, BB-0). Hitting-EC: Kaden Buck 2-3, Hunter Lyons 1-2; SJ: Jackson Rowe 3-4 2B, Clay Willis 2-3, Isaac Whaley 2-3 2B, Chase Walters 2-3 2B, Trae Crabtree 2-3 2-2B, Chase Wilds 1-2, J.C. Damron 1-3.