Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

LUCASVILLE — The St. Joseph Flyers were thinking upset. It was good thinking until the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Lucasville Valley Indians got a run in the bottom of the seventh to avoid an upset loss as they nipped the Flyers 3-2 on Thursday.
“We played pretty well. We hit a lot of balls hard but right at them. But give them credit, they put the ball in play and found a way to get on base,” said Flyers’ coach Greg Bryant.
“(Clay) Willis and (Isaac) Whaley both threw well. They didn’t hit sharp balls off them. They kept us in the game and gave us a chance to win. I give our kids credit for battling back in the seventh. But Valley is a pretty solid team. They are pretty good.”
Valley got a run in the first when Andrew Andronis singled, Jared Morrow walked, a passed ball and Jesse Jones grounded out for the RBI.
The Indians added a run in the fourth.
Kayden Mollette singled, Cayton Ruby put down a sacrifice, and after a fly out moved the runner Andronis singled in a run.
St. Joseph tied the game in the seventh.
Isaac Whaley and Chase Walters singled to start the inning. Trae Crabtree’s fly out sent Whaley to third and he scored on a throwing error from the outfield.
Izsak Unger walked, Jimmy Mahlmeister was hit by a pitch and J.C. Damron walked to force in the tying run.
But the Indians rallied for a run in the bottom of the inning.
Ashkettle singled, Tucket Williams put down a sacrifice, a ground out sent the runner to third and he scored on Ruby’s base hit.
Whaley was 2-3 with Walters and Crabtree each 1-3.
St. Joseph visits River Valley at 10 a.m. Saturday.
St. Joseph 000 000 2 = 2 4 1
Lucasville 100 100 1 = 3 11 2
Clay Willis, Isaac Whaley (5) and Jackson Rowe, Jimmy Mahlmeister (5). Jesse Jones, Jacob Ashkettle (7) and Andrew Andronis. W-Ashkettle. L-Whaley (IP-1.2, H-6, R-1, BB-1). Hitting-St. Joe: Isaac Whaley 2-3, Chase Walters 1-3, Trae Crabtree 1-3; LV: Brecken Williams 2-3, Andrew Andronis 2-4, Jesse Jones 2-4, Jared Morrow 1-2, Tucket Williams 1-2, Cayton Ruby 1-3, Jacob Ashkettle 1-4, Kayden Mollette 1-4.