Waginger's 4 RBIs helps Flyers rally past Pointers in opener

SOUTH POINT — Pete Rose called Tony Perez “The Big Dog” or “Doggie” because he was clutch with runners in scoring position.

The St. Joseph Flyers may have their own “Big Dog” as Beckham Waginger proved to be clutch in an 8-4 season opening win over the South Point Pointers on Monday.

“We only had five hits but we hit the ball hard right at them all day,” said Flyers’ coach Nick Medinger. “Beckham had three of the hits and he was clutch. He drove in half our runs.”

Waginger was 3-for-4 with a double and four runs batted in to spark the offense.

Overall, Medinger was pleased with the team’s performance.

“It was a pretty good effort for our first game. I was pleased with our pitching,” said Medinger.

“Aldridge threw well in his first start and Willis and Whaley did a nice job in relief.”

The Flyers had three pitchers combine to allow only five hits and one earned run.

Evan Aldridge went the first four innings for the win as he gave up two hits, one earned run with three strikeouts and a walk.

Carson Willis went two innings giving up a hit with two strikeouts and two walks while Eli Whaley yielded two hits, two unearned runs and he had a strikeout.

The game was scoreless until the third inning when both teams scored.

In the top of the inning, Mason Weber walked, stole second and scored on a hit by Waginger.

The Pointers (0-3) took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning.

Anthony Neal was hit by a pitch, Ethan Laslo walked, Caesyn Pope had an RBI single and the second run scored on the return throw to the infield.

The Flyers erupted for six runs in the fifth inning to take control of the game.

Barrett Waginger and Blake Medinger walked to start the rally. They moved up on a ground out and scored on a single by Beckham Waginger.

Carson Lyons, Aldridge and Willis walked to force in a run, Braden Neal was hit by a pitch to force home a run and a wild pitch scored the final run.

The Flyers added a run in the sixth when Blake Medinger singled, stole second and scored on Beckham Waginger’s double.

The Pointers got a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh.

Jared Devaney was hit by a pitch, Robert Napier hit into a force out, Neal single and then Laslo singled and an error on the play allowed the two runners to score.

Besides Beckham Waginger, Willis was 1-2 with an RBI and Medinger was 1-3.

Laslo ws 2-2 to pace the Pointers’ offense. Pope was 1-4 with an RBI, Neal was 1-2 and Elye Patterson 1-3.

St. Joseph 001 061 0 = 8 5 2

South Point 002 000 2 = 4 5 1

Evan Aldridge, Carson Willis (5), Eli Whaley (7) and Beckham Waginger. Ryder Pratt, Owen Tabor (5), Levi Thornsbury (5), Marcus Handshaw (6) and Caesyn Pope. W-Aldridge (IP-4.0, H-2, R-2, ER-1, K-3, BB-1). Willis (IP-2.0, H-1, R-0, K-2, BB-2). Whaley (IP-1.0, H-2, R-2, ER-0, K-1, BB-0). L-Pratt (IP-4.2, H-3, R-5, ER-5, K-4, BB-4). Tabor (IP-0.0, H-0, R-2, ER-2, K-0, BB-2). Thornsbury (IP-0.1, H-0, R-0, K-0, BB-0). Handshaw (IP-2.0, R-2, H-2, R-1, ER-1, K-2, BB-2). Hitting–St. Joseph: Beckham Waginger 3-4 2B 4-RBI, Carson Willis 1-2 RBI, Blake Medinger 1-3, Braden Neal RBI; South Point: Ethan Laslo 2-2, Marcus Handshaw RBI, Caesyn Pope 1-4 RBI, Elye Patterson 1-3, Anthony Neal 1-2.