By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

LATHAM — That explosion that was heard wasn’t someone tripping over a landmine.

It was just the St. Joseph Flyers offense.

The Flyers’ offense exploded for 12 runs in the first inning and went on to rout the Western Indians 15-2 in a Southern Ohio Conference game on Tuesday.

Landon “Rocky” Rowe lit the fuse with a leadoff single and stole second. Brady “Quinn” Medinger got an RBI single, stole second and third and scored on a hit by Evan Balestra.

Balestra stole second and third and Drew Brown had an RBI single. Wesley Neal walked and Darryn “Hitman” Harvey singled home Brown. Jake Stephens was hit by a pitch and Carson Lyons walked to force home Neal. Mason Weber walked to score Harvey and Rowe singled in his second at-bat of the inning driving home 2 runs.

Medinger reached on an error as a run scored, Balestra hit a sacrifice fly, Brown and Neal walked, Harvey was hit by a pitch and Stephens hit a sacrifice fly to drive in the final run.

Western scored its runs in the bottom of the inning as Josh Brewster and Jagger Grooms walked, Mikey Bennett doubled for a run and Wyatt Henderson grounded out for an RBI.

The Flyers (11-3, 8-2) got a pair of runs in the third when Harvey and Stephens singled, Lyons walked and Weber hit into a fielder’s choice as 2 runners scored.

St. Joseph added a run in the fourth when Carson Willis walked, stole second, took third on a passed ball and Neal hit a sacrifice fly.

Whaley worked the first 3 innings for the win as he gave up 3 hits, 2 runs with one earned, a strikeout and 2 walks. Lyons finished and had 2 strikeouts and 2 walks.

Rowe was 2-3 with 2 RBI, Medinger had 2 RBI, Balestra 1-3 with 2 RBI, Brown 1-2 with 2 RBI, Harvey 2-2 with an RBI, Stephens 1-1 with an RBI, Weber 3 RBI and Lyons an RBI.

St. Joseph (12)02 10 = 15 8 0

Western   200 00 = 2 3 2

Eli Whaley, Carson Lyons (4) and Jake Stephens. Jagger Grooms, Cutter Clay (2) and Mikey Bennett. W-Whaley (IP-3.0, H-3, R-2, ER-2, K-1, BB-2, HBP-1). Lyons (IP-2.0, H-0, R-0, K-2, BB-2, HBP-2). L-Grooms (IP-1.0, H-6, R-12, ER-10, K-0, BB-6, HBP-2). Clay (IP-3.2, H-2, R-3, ER-2, K-2, BB-7). Hitting-St. Joseph: Landon “Rocky” Rowe 2-3 2-RBI, Brady “Quinn” Medinger 2-RBI, Evan Balestra 1-3 2-RBI, Drew Brown 1-2 RBI, Darryn “Hitman” Harvey 2-2 RBI, Jake Stephens 1-1 RBI, Carson Lyons RBI, Mason Weber 3-RBI; Western: Mikey Bennett 1-1 2B RBI, Christian Hawks 1-1, Cutter Clay 1-2, Wyatt Henderson RBI.