By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

ASHLAND, Ky. — What started out as a nightmare turned into a dream of a performance.

Drew Brown had a shaky first inning only to settle down quickly and dominate the Portsmouth Clay Panthers as the St. Joseph Flyers took an 11-1 rule rule win in a Southern Ohio Conference 1 game on Monday.

Brown struck out 12 and walked just one over 5 innings of work. The only run was earned.

Clay (6-9, 4-5) went up 1-0 in the top of the first when Brandon Malone and Dawson James were each hit by a pitch, Malone stole third and then scored when James stole second.

But after the first inning, Brown went into shutdown mode.

The Flyers came back to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

Brady “Quinn” Medinger singled with one out, stole second and scored on a hit by Evan Balestra.

Balestra stole second and third, Carson Lyons reached on a dropped third strike, Brown walked and Darryn “Hitman” Harvey singled home Balestra.

St. Joseph (8-2, 7-2) got a run in the third thanks to Landon “Rocky” Rowe who was hit by a pitch, stole second, went to third on an error and scored on Medinger’s liner to right field for a sacrifice fly.

The Flyers erupted for 5 runs in the fourth inning to lead 8-1.

Wesley Neal drew a one-out walk, stole second and went to third on a hit by Jake Stephens. Neal scored on a wild pitch and Mason Weber’s double scored Stephens.

Weber went to third on the throw home and scored on a throwing error.

Rowe walked, stole second and third and Medinger got an infield hit as Rowe scored.

Balestra tripled home Medinger to cap the rally.

The Flyers ended the game early with 3 runs in the sixth inning.

Medinger singled and went to third on a pair of errors on the play. Balestra singled home Medinger and it was 9-1.

Balestra stole second, went to third on a balk, Lyons walker and Balestra scored on a passed ball. Courtesy runner Eli Whaley — who earlier stole second — went to third on the passed ball and scored the game-ending run on a balk.

Balestra had a big game for the Flyers as he went 3-4 with a triple and 3 RBI. Medinger was 2-4 with 2 RBI, Harvey 1-3 with an RBI, Weber 1-3 with a double and RBI, Neal 1-2 and Stephens 1-3.

Ports. Clay 100 000 = 1 2 6

St. Joseph 201 503 = 11 9 0

Zane Ball, Aidyn Schackart (3), Aiden Ball (4), Cayden McKenzie (6) and Isaiah Whitt, Kaden Ealey (5). Drew Brown, Brady Medinger (6) and Jake Stephens. W-Brown (IP-5.0, H-1, R-1, ER-1, K-12, BB-1, HBP-2). Medinger (IP-1.0, H-1, R-0, K-2, BB-1). L-Z. Ball (IP-2.2, H-4, R-3, ER-2, K-1, BB-2, HBP-2). Schackart (IP-0.2, H-2, R-4, ER-4, K-0, BB-2, WP-1). A. Ball (IP-1.2, H-1, R-1, ER-1, K-1,BB-0). McKenzie (IP-0.1, H-2, R-3, ER-2, K-1, BB-1). Hitting-Portsmouth Clay: Kaden Ealey 1-1, Dawson James 1-2; St. Joseph: Brady “Quinn” Medinger 2-4 2-RBI, Evan Balestra 3-4 3B 3-RBI, Darryn “Hitman” Harvey 1-3 RBI, Wesley Neal 1-2, Jake Stephens 1-3, Mason Weber 1-3 2B RBI.