Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

BIDWELL — With a starting lineup of only two seniors along with four freshmen and a sophomore, St. Joseph Flyers’ coach Greg Bryant wasn’t sure what to expect at the start of the season.
After Saturday’s 9-2 win over the River Valley Raiders, Bryant is beginning to see just what has developed.
Freshman Jackson Rowe went five innings in his first start of the season for the win. Rowe struck out six, walked three, gave up six hits and one earned run.
Junior Isaac Whaley finished up with two hitless innings as he struck out three and walked one.
“This group going into the season had the potential to win some games, but it took a couple of weeks to get into rhythm with all the interruptions for whatever reasons,” said Bryant.
“Jackson Rowe won his first start of the season and we continued to hit the ball. But with a young team, you don’t know what you’re going to get from day to day.”
The Flyers (10-3) jumped in front 3-0 in the first inning.
Rowe walked, Clay Willis reached on an error, and after a double steal Whaley had two-run single.
Whaley moved up on a wild pitch and Trae Crabtree delivered an RBI double.
The Raiders got a run with two outs in the second when Will Edgar walked and Zach Stein and Chase Caldwell singled.
St. Joseph came back to get two runs in the fourth.
With one out, Jimmy Mahlmeister was safe on an error and J.C. Damron and Rowe singled to load the bases. Willis squeezed home a run and Whaley singled in the second run.
River Valley scored in the fifth when Dustin Barber got a one-out hit, Wyatt Halfhill was safe on an error and Andrew Mershon singled.
The Flyers tacked on four insurance runs in the seventh.
Chase Walters tripled and Crabtree hit a sacrifice fly to score pinch-runner Bryson Canter to make it 6-2.
Jake Salisbury and Ryan Scaife both walked and Jimmy Mahlmeister doubled home pinch-runner Chase Wilds who had re-entered the game. Damron followed with a two-run single.
Damron was 2-4 as St. Joseph had seven hits.
The Flyers visit Hannan, W.Va., on Monday and host Fairland on senior night Tuesday.
St. Joseph 300 200 4 = 9 7 2
River Valley 010 010 0 = 2 6 6
Jackson Rowe, Isaac Whaley (6) and Jimmy Mahlmeister. Jack Farley, Seth McDonald (7), Dustin Barber (7) and K.C. Collins. W-Rowe (IP-5.0, H-6, R-2, ER-1, K-6, BB-3). Whaley (IP-2.0, K3-, BB-1). L-Farley (IP-6, H-5, 7-R, ER-3, K-9, BB-4). Hitting-St. Joe: J.C. Damron 2-4, Jackson Rowe 1-3, Trae Crabtree 1-3 2B, Isaac Whaley 1-4, Chase Walters 1-4 3B, Jimmy Mahlmeister 1-4 2B; RV: Zach Stein 1-2, Alex Euton 1-3, Chase Caldwell 1-3, Andrew Mershon 1-4, Farley 1-4).