Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — The key to pitching is to throw strikes.
Malachi Wheeler threw 59 strikes out of 90 pitches and tossed a five-hitter as the Coal Grove Hornets rallied past the St. Joseph Flyers 7-4 on Monday.
Wheeler struck out only two but issued just one walk and that came on the first batter of the game.
“He’s a pitcher. He doesn’t just go up there and throw the ball. He pitches. He’s a very talented young pitcher,” said Hornets’ coach Blair Demetroulos.
Isaac Whaley went 5.1 innings and took the loss. He gave up all seven runs but only two were earned. He struck out five and walked five. The Flyers were guilty of five errors.
St. Joseph (14-8) got a run in the top of the first inning.
Jackson Rowe walked, stole second, took third on a ground out and scored on Whaley’s base hit.
Coal Grove answered with a run in the bottom of the inning.
Compliment was safe on an error, stole second and scored when Nate Harmon reached on error.
The Flyers went up 2-1 in the fourth.
Jimmy Mahlmeister singled, stole second, took third on a passed ball and scored on Ryan Payne’s sacrifice fly.
The Hornets scored three times in the fifth to take the lead for good.
Christian Workman reached on a two-base error and scored when Compliment reached on another error.
Compliment scored on a wild pitch and then Harmon hit a solo home run.
“Harmon’s home run got our guys fired up. He’s seeing the ball well right now,” said Demetroulos.
Coal Grove added three insurance runs in the sixth.
Evan Gannon led off with a walk and Cory Borders was safe on an error and both scored on Workman’s double. Workman later scored on a passed ball.
The Flyers
Mahlmeister singled, went to second on an error, took third on a ground out and scored then Max Weber grounded out.
Izsak “Sweet Feet” Unger followed with a double and scored when Ethan Clark was safe on an error.
St. Joseph 100 100 2 = 4 5 5
Coal Grove 100 033 x = 7 6 3
Isaac Whaley, Matt Sheridan (6) and Michael Mahlmeister. Malachi Wheeler and Ben Compliment. W-Wheeler (ER-2, K-2, BB-1). L-Whaley (IP-5.1, H-6, R-6, ER-2, K-5, BB-5). Sheridan (IP-0.2, K-1). Hitting-St. Joe: Isaac Whaley 1-3, Jimmy Mahlmeister 2-3, Izsak Unger 1-3, Ethan Clark 1-3; CG: Christian Workman 1-4 2B, Ben Compliment 1-4, Nate Harmon 1-3 HR, Xander Keaton 1-3, Malachi Wheeler 1-3, Cory Borders 1-3.