Getting behind seems to put the St. Joseph Flyers in front.

After trailing late in the game for the fourth straight time, the Flyers rallied for an 8-7 win over the Portsmouth East Tartans Thursday.

“We came out a little flat and fell behind, but we came back. The kids have been through a lot this week. It was a good team win,” Flyers coach Greg Bryant said.

After a scoreless first inning, each team scored in the second.

J.R. Little walked and Chase Mault and Paul Burchett singled for a run. Nate Williams grounded out as a run scored.

The Flyers got a run when Caleb Blackburn singled, moved up on a wild pitch, Michael Basedow was safe on an error, Reed Smith walked and Dylan Klein hit a sacrifice fly.

St. Joseph got two in the fourth to lead 3-2.

Jerrod Laber walked, went to third on a pair of wild pitches. Basedow singled, stole second base and scored when Alex Brown and Klein each reached on errors.

East took a 4-3 lead in the top of the fifth.

Nate Williams led off with a home run to tie the game. Nathan Skeens and Little followed with singles, Mault walked and Burchett was safe on an error as a run scored.

The Flyers got the run back in the bottom of the fifth on hits by Pat Gagai, Waginger and Alex Swarts.

East rallied for three runs with two outs in the sixth inning to go up 7-4.

Nate Williams was hit by a pitch while Luther and Skeens singled for a run. Brandon Williams then doubled home two runs.

St. Joseph scored three runs in the seventh inning to tie the game.

Chad Harvey singled, Gagai was safe on an error and Waginger singled to load the bases.

Swarts was safe on an error as a run scored and Blackburn and Laber singled for two more runs.

St. Joseph scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth.

Gagai singled, stole second base, took third on a wild pitch and Waginger and Swarts were walked intentionally to load the bases. The strategy backfired as Blackburn singled home the winning run.

Waginger was 3-4 to lead the Flyers 13-hit attack. Gagai and Blackburn were 3-5 each.

St. Joseph, 7-3, plays at Portsmouth Clay on Tuesday.

Prts. East02002300=7103

St. Joseph01021031=8131

Caden Sparks, Nate Williams (7) and John Luther. Caleb Blackburn, Ryan Waginger (5), Caleb Blackburn (7) and Pat Gagai. W-Blackburn (4-K, 3-BB, 6-H). Waginger (4-K, 1-BB, 4-H). L-Williams (3-K, 3-BB). 2B-East: Brandon Williams. HR-East: Nate Williams. Hitting-East: Nate Williams 2-5, John Luther 1-5, Nathan Skeens 2-5, Brandon Williams 1-4, J.R. Little 1-3, Chase Mault 2-3, Paul Burchett 1-3; St. Joseph: Chad Harvey 1-5, Pat Gagai 3-5, Ryan Waginger 3-4, Alex Swarts 1-4, Caleb Blackburn 3-5, Jerrod Laber 1-3, Michael Basedow 1-3.