Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

PORTSMOUTH — Forget no child left behind. How about no runners left on base.

The St. Joseph Flyers are getting runners on base, they just need to drive them home.

The problem resurfaced on Friday as St. Joseph fell 7-4 to the Portsmouth Clay Panthers.

“We played pretty well and had some hits, but we need to hit better in the clutch. We’re leaving too many runners on base,” said Flyers’ coach Lou Mains.

The Flyers went ahead 1-0 in the top of the first when Gage Butler singled, stole second and scored on Zac McGraw’s base hit.

Clay answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning.

Grant Hempill, Devin Holcomb, Cole Gilliand all singled for a run, Keith Cottle reached on an error and Drew Hadsell had a two-out double.

Holcomb and Gilliland had two-out singles and Wyatt Large doubled them home to make it 6-1 in the second.

St. Joseph got a run back in the third when Butler singled, stole second and McGraw reached on an error.

The Flyers cut the deficit to 6-4 in the fourth.

Clay Willis walked, stole second and scored on a hit by James Carter. Payton Adkins singled and Isaac Whaley doubled in a run.

Clay added an insurance run in the fifth on singles by Cottle, Brody Riffe and Brayden Queen.

Butler went 2-3 to lead the Flyers who had eight hits.

Holcomb was 4-4 for Clay while Hadsell was 2-3 and Gilliland and Large were 2-4 each.

Cottle got the win as he struck out seven and walked two. McGraw took the loss in his first varsity start.

St. Joseph visits Rock Hill on Tuesday.

St. Joseph 101 200 0 = 4 8 3

Ports. Clay 420 010 x = 7 14 1

Zac McGraw and Gage Butler. Keith Cottle and Wyatt Large. W-Cottle (K-7, BB-2). McGraw (K-1, BB-1). Hitting-SJ: Isaac Whaley 1-4 rbi 2B, Gage Butler 2-3, Zac McGraw 2-4 rbi, Chase Walters 1-4, James Carter 1-3 rbi, Payton Adkins 1-3; Clay: Grant Hempill 1-4, Devin Holcomb 4-4, Cole Gilliland 2-4, Wyatt Large 2-4 2B, Keith Cottle 1-4, Brody Riffe 1-3, Drew Hadsell 2-3 2B, Brayden Queen 1-3.