Flyers squeeze out a comeback win over Bearcats
- Staff
- May 20
- 3 min read
IRONTON — Saint Joseph found themselves in another tight ballgame.
And this time they had to squeeze out a win.
Trailing by one run, the Flyers rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat the Paint Valley Bearcats 7-6 on Monday at Clouston Field.
The win was set up when Evan Aldridge doubled to lead off the inning. Wes Neal followed with a single to put runners on first and third. Neal stole second before Carson Willis hit a sacrifice fly into center to score Rex Weber from third and move Neal over to third with one out.
Carson Lyons attempted a squeeze bunt on the first pitch, but Paint Valley's catcher was unable to get a handle on the ball and it rolled up the first base line as Wes Neal slid into home for the win.
Mason Weber paced the Flyers offensively, going 3-for-3 at the plate with a double, a triple and a run batted in. Aldridge went 3-4 with an RBI to go along with his double to set up the win. Neal went 2-4 with an RBI. Lyons went 2-3, Beckham Waginger had an RBI, and Carson Willis had a hit for Saint Joseph.
Willis picked up the win for Saint Joseph (11-6) after coming on in relief in the fourth to finish out the game. The junior struck out five and allowed one walk in 3 and 1/3 innings of work.
Saint Joseph took the lead in the first when Weber drove home Landon Rowe on a double to left center and Waginger knocked Weber in on a ground out to give the Flyers a 2-0 advantage.
The Bearcats (4-19) put together a big second inning to take the lead.
During the run rally, River Mettler singled into left to score Paint Valley's first run with one out. Bryce Blanton followed with a sacrifice bunt to score another. Then Preston Fauber delivered an RBI double down the left field line. Then Brayden Kirkbride scored on a passed ball to give the Bearcats a 4-2 lead.
Paint Valley added two more in the fourth when Jase Rinehart sent a pitch down the left field line for a ground rule double to score two more runs and give the Panthers a 6-2 lead.
The Flyers got one run back in the bottom of the inning, as Rowe drew a throw back down to third and the ball sailed over the third baseman's head, allowing Rowe to score and cut the deficit to three.
Then in the fifth, the Flyer got two more runs to narrow the gap even more.
Weber led the inning off with a triple. Waginger was hit by a pitch to reach base. Then Aldridge and Neal followed with RBI singles to make it a one run game and set up the finish.
Fauber led the Bearcat offense, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Reinhart had a double and 2 RBIs, Mettler and Blanton had a hit and an RBI. Willy Wheaton, Brennan Ison and Owen Donahue also had a hit for Paint Valley.
Reinhart took the loss for the Panthers.
The Flyers travel to face Leesburg Fairfield on Thursday in the opening round of the Division 7 tournament. The Bearcats face Trimble on Thursday in tournament play.
Paint Valley 040 200 0 = 6 8 2
St. Joseph 200 120 2 = 7 11 1
Owen Donahue, Jase Reinhart (4) and Preston Fauber. Evan Aldridge, Beckham Waginger (2), Carson Willis (4) and Beckham Waginger, Evan Aldridge (2). W-Willis (IP-3.1, H-0, R-0, ER-0, K-5, BB-1, HBP-0). Aldridge (IP-1.2, H-5, R-4, ER-3, K-2, BB-3, HBP-0). Waginger (IP-2.0, H-3, R-2, ER-2, K-3, BB-0, HBP-1). L- Reinhart (IP-3.1, H-8, R-5, ER-4, K-6, BB-1, HBP-1). Donahue (IP-3.0, H-3, R-2, ER-1, K-1, BB-2, WP-0). Hitting-Paint Valley: Preston Fauber 2-3 RBI 2B, Willy Wheaton 1-3, Jase Reinhart 1-4 2-RBI 2B, Brennen Ison 1-4, Owen Donahue 1-4, River Mettler 1-3 RBI, Bryce Blanton 1-1 RBI; St. Joseph: Mason Weber 3-3 RBI 2B 3B, Beckham Waginger RBI, Evan Aldridge 3-4 RBI 2B, Wes Neal 2-4 RBI, Carson Willis 1-3 RBI, Carson Lyons 2-3.
Comments