Errors, unearned runs plague Flyers in district semifinal loss to Panthers

LOGAN — Christmas came early and the St. Joseph Flyers were the ones playing Santa Claus.

The Flyers gave up 7 walks, a hit batsman, and committed 6 errors that produced 8 unearned runs in an 11-4 loss to the Portsmouth Clay Panthers on Thursday in the Division 7 district semifinals.

“You can’t put that many runners on base and give up that many unearned runs and expect to win, especially against a good team,” said Flyers’ coach Nick Medinger.

“We got down and our kids battled back and got within striking distance, but our errors really hurt us.”

Portsmouth Clay (21-7) will play South Webster in the district finals on Friday.

The Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Evan Rider reached on a two-base error, went to third on a hit by Noah Woods and scored when Coby Secrist hit a sacrifice fly.

St. Joseph (16-8) tied the game in the top of the third inning.

Barrett Wagner walked, stole second, was sacrificed to third base by Beckham Waginger, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Carson Lyons.

But Clay came right back and scored 4 runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good at 5-1.

London Sinclair led off with a walk, Rider walked and Woods singled for a run. Secrist reached on an error for another run, Cade Munion singled and Bryce Whitley was safe on an error to score a run and cap the rally.

The Panthers added a run in the fourth when Derick Oliver walked, was sacrificed to second by Sinclair, Woods walked and Secrist singled for the run.

The Flyers got a pair of runs in the fifth to cut the deficit in half at 6-3.

Carson Lyons singled, Mason Weber got an RBI triple and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Braydon Neal.

St. Joseph got within 6-4 in the top of the sixth when Barrett Waginger singled, went to second when Beckham Waginger grounded out, and scored on Lyons’ base hit.

But Clay answered with a two-out, 5-run rally in the bottom of the inning to put the game out of reach.

Rider was safe on an error, Woods was hit by a pitch, Secrist walked and Jackson Hannan tripled to clear the bases. Munion singled home Hannan, Whitley singled and Aidan Schackart was safe on an error to score the final run.

Both teams finished with 7 hits.

Barrett Waginger was 3-3 with a double, Lyons 2-3 with 2 RBI, Weber 1-3 with a triple and an RBI, and Evan Aldridge 1-3 for the Flyers.

For Clay, Woods was 2-2, Munion 2-4 with 2 RBI, Whitley 1-3 and an RBI, Secrist 1-2 with 3 RBI, and Hannan was 1-4 with a triple and 4 RBI.

Rider went 6.1 innings for the win. He struck 12, walked 2, and 3 of the runs he allowed were earned.

St. Joseph 001 021 0 = 4 7 6

Ports. Clay 104 105 x = 11 7 2

Carson Willis, Evan Aldridge (4) and Beckham Waginger. Evan Rider, Colby Secrist (7) and Noah Woods. W-Rider (IP-6.1, H-7, R-4, ER-3, K-12, BB-2). Secrist (IP-0.2, H-0, R-0, ER-0, K-1, BB-0). L-Willis (IP-3.2, H-3, R-6, ER-3, K-1, BB-5). Aldridge (IP-2.1, H-4, R-5, ER-0, K-2, BB-2, HBP-1) Hitting–St. Joseph: Barrett Waginger 3-3 2B, Carson Lyons 2-3 2-RBI, Mason Weber 1-3 3B RBI, Evan Aldridge 1-3, Braydon Neal SF RBI; Clay: Noah Woods 2-2, Colby Secrist 1-2 3-RBI, Jackson Hannan 1-4 3B 4-RBI, Cade Munion 2-4 2-RBI, Bryce Whitley 1-3 RBI.