Panthers rally back to edge past Flyers in key SOC game

PORTSMOUTH — It was a tough game which meant it was a tough loss.

In a key Southern Ohio Conference 1 game, the Portsmouth Clay Panthers managed to come away with a 3-1 win over the St. Joseph Flyers on Wednesday.

“That’s a game we could have gone either way. There were a few little things we didn’t do that helped them win,” said Flyers’ coach Nick Medinger.

“Willis battled and pitched pretty well. Their kid pitched well. It was a very competitive game.”

Evan Rider got the complete game win for Clay as he gave up six hits, an earned run with eight strikeouts and one walk.

Carson Willis went 5.1 innings in taking the loss. He allowed only four hits, struck out four and walked four. Two of the three runs were earned.

Evan Aldridge went the final two-thirds of an inning and did not give up a hit. He struck out two with no walks.

St. Joseph (2-1, 0-1) snapped a scoreless tie with a run in the fourth inning when Evan Aldridge got a leadoff double and scored on a two-out single by Barrett Waginger.

Clay (3-0, 1-0) tied the game in the fifth inning.

Cade Union started the inning with a base hit and moved up on a passed ball, Aidyn Schackart put down a sacrifice bunt and Evan Rider reached on an error as the run scored.

The Panthers got the winning runs in the sixth inning.

Bryce Whitley led off with a double, took third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jackson Hannan.

Colby Secrist then walked, went to second on a balk and scored on a hit by Zane Ball.

Mason Weber was 2-3, Aldridge 2-3 with a double, Waginger 1-3 with an RBI, and Ian Whaley 1-3 to account for the Flyers’ offense.

Whitley, Ball, Jones and Munion all went 1-3 for Clay.

St. Joseph 000 100 0 = 1 6 1

Ports. Clay 000 012 x = 3 4 1

Carson Willis, Evan Aldridge (6) and Beckham Waginger. Evan Rider and Noah Woods. W-Rider (IP-7.0, H-6, R-1, ER-1, K-8, BB-1). L-Willis (IP-5.1, H-4, R-3, ER-2, K-4, BB-4). Aldridge (IP-0.2, H-0, R-0, K-2, BB-0). Hitting–St. Joseph: Mason Weber 2-3, Evan Aldridge 2-3 2B, Barrett Waginger 1-3 RBI, Ian Whaley 1-3; Clay: Bryce Whitley 1-3 2B, Zane Ball 1-3 RBI, Braxton Jones 1-3, Cade Munion 1-3.