By JIM WALKER

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

COAL GROVE — When opportunity knocked, the St. Joseph Flyers answered. Well, at least a few times.

The Flyers took advantage of their scoring chances as they topped the Symmes Valley Vikings 5-3 on Tuesday in the Division 4 sectional finals,

“I have to give our kids credit. We played well in the field, we ran the bases well and we took advantage of our scoring opportunities when we needed to the most,” said Flyers’ coach Greg Bryant.

“Symmes Valley has a good team. They were SOC 2 champions and we beat them earlier 3-2. That was a good win for us.”

Jake Stephens threw a 4-hitter as he struck out eight and walked six.

“Stephens threw the ball well. He was a little but I’m sure the weather didn’t help him grip the ball. But he hit his spots and threw strikes for the most part,” said Bryant.

The Flyers (14-4) will play top-seeded Leesburg Fairfield in the district semifinals at approximately 2 p.m. on Saturday in Chillicothe at Veterans Stadium.

The Flyers struck first with a run in the bottom of the first inning.

Landon “Rocky” Rowe led off the inning with a double, Brady “Quinn” Medinger walked and Evan Balestra singled to drive home Rowe.

The Vikings (12-9) rallied to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the third.

Ayden Taylor started the inning with a double. After a line out to center field, Luke Niece singled to send Taylor to third.

Will Jones grounded to third but the throw home was too late as Taylor scored. After a strikeout, Zander Hurn singled to score Niece.

St. Joseph regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth.

Wesley Neal reached on a dropped third strike, Carson Lyons walked and Carson Willis lined a singled to center to load the bases.

Stephens and Rowe followed with back-to-back walks to force home the tying and go-ahead runs.

The Flyers were back at it in the fifth inning as Darryn “Hitman” Harvey drew a walk and pinch-runner Blake Medinger went to third on a single by Wesley Neal and an outfield error.

After a strikeout, Willis walked to load the bases and a two-out wild pitch allowed Medinger and Neal to score and it was 5-2.

The Vikings weren’t about to quit as they mounted a rally in the seventh inning.

Tanner Thompson drew a one-out walk, went to second on a ground out, and after Jones walked, a pair of wild pitches allowed Thompson to score.

But Stephens got the next batter to pop out to second baseman Brady “Quinn” Medinger and give the Flyers the sectional title.

Rowe was 1-3 with a double and RBI, Balestra 1-2 with an RBI, Neal 1-3 and Willis 1-2.

Symmes Valley pitchers Tanner Corn and Mason Stevenson combined to allow only 4 hits but walked 10 batters as well as striking out 10.

Turn was 2-3 with an RBI Niece 1-2 and Taylor 1-3 with a double.

Sym. Valley 020 000 1 = 3 4 0

St. Joseph 100 220 x = 5 4 1

Tanner Corn, Mason Stevenson (5) and Will Jones. Jake Stephens and Drew Brown, Darian Barker (7). W-Stephens (IP-7.0, H-4, R-3, ER- 3, K-8, BB-6, WP-3). L-Corn (IP-3.0, H-3, R-3, ER-3, K-5, BB-7, WP-2). Stevenson (IP-3.0, H-1, R-2, ER-2, K-5, BB-3, WP-1). Hitting-Symmes Valley: Luke Niece 1-2, Zander Hurn 2-3 RBI, Aydan Taylor 1-3 2B, Will Jones RBI; St. Joseph: Landon Rowe 1-2 RBI 2B, Evan Balestra 1-2 RBI, Wesley Neal 1-3, Carson Willis 1-2, Jake Stephens RBI.