Flyers overcome shaky start to cut down Oaks, 6-1

OAK HILL — It was the group Chicago that sang, “Feeling Stronger Every Day.” Barrett Waginger was feeling stronger every inning.

After a shaky first inning, the St. Joseph Flyers’ freshman pitcher held the Oak Hill Oaks in check in a 6-1 win on Thursday.

"We came out pretty flat at the start. But we managed to wake up around the third inning and get some runs to get some separation," said Flyers coach Nick Medinger.

Waginger allowed just 4 hits as he gave up an earned run in the first inning and followed with six strong scoreless innings. He struck out 8 and walked 2, both in the first inning.

St. Joseph (10-4) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Waginger doubled and Carson Lyons singled.

Oak Hill (5-14) came right back in the bottom of the inning to tie the game.

Isaac Gilliland got a leadoff walk, moved up on a passed ball, took third on a hit by Mikey Williams, and was forced home after Blaise Berger was hit by a pitch and Haden McKenzie walked.

The score remained deadlocked briefly as the Flyers took the lead with a run in the third when Lyons and Evan Aldridge both walked and Mason Weber had a hard single to center.

The Flyers added 2 runs in each in the fifth and sixth innings.

In the fifth, Waginger got a leadoff single, Lyons followed with a hit and Aldridge drilled a two-run double down the left field line.

Blake Medinger singled and Kemper Kerecman walked to begin the sixth. Medinger went to third on a fly out by Waginger and Beckham Waginger’s ground out scored the run. Lyons singled to drive home Kerecman and cap the rally.

Williams was 3-3 for the Oaks but he also took the loss as he gave up 10 hits, 5 earned runs with 6 strikeouts and 4 walks. Isaiah Martin was 1-3 for the Oaks.

St. Joseph 101 022 0 = 6 10 0

Oak Hill 100 000 0 = 1 4 2

Barrett Waginger and Evan Aldridge. Mikey Williams, Carson Criner (7) and Isaac Gilliland. W-Waginger (IP-7.0, H-4, R-1, ER-1, K-8, BB-2). L-Williams (IP-6.0, H-10, R-6, ER-5, K-6, BB-4). Criner (IP-1.0, H-0, R-0, ER-0, K-1, BB-0). Hitting–St. Joseph: Barrett Waginger 2-4 2B, Beckham Waginger RBI, Carson Lyons 3-3 2-RBI, Evan Aldridge 1-3 2B 2-RBI, Mason Weber 3-4 RBI, Blake Medinger 1-3; Oak Hill: Mikey Williams 3-3, Isaiah Martin 1-3.