SANDY HOOK, Ky. — When things got tough, Caleb Blackburn got tougher.

Blackburn struggled with his control the entire game, but he battled through his problems to pitch a three-hitter as the St. Joseph Flyers opened the season with a 9-1 win over Elliott County.

“(Caleb) didn’t get ahead in the count and went deep in the count. The good thing is he worked himself out of jams,” said Flyers coach Greg Bryant.

“As a tem we just have to get better.”

Blackburn walked eight but he struck out 12 in six innings. Cody Blackburn pitched the seventh.

The Flyers got all the runs they needed with three in the top of the first inning.

Pat Gagai singled, stole second and came home when Caleb Blackburn reached on a two-base error. Blackburn stole third and Jerrod Laber had and RBI single.

Laber stole second and came when Dylan Klein reached on an error.

After Elliott County got a run in the first, the Flyers added two in the fourth.

Joe “The Shoe” Unger walked, stole second, and Klein was safe on an error. Klein stole second and Unger came home on a throwing error.

George McCown walked and Aaron Murphy and Gagai each hit into a fielder’s choice.

A run scored in the fifth when Laber walked, stole second and third, and came home when Unger grounded out.

Another run scored in the sixth. David Crossan was safe on an error and scored on Blackburn’s double.

The final two runs scored in the seventh.

Klein and McCown walked and Cody Blackburn put down a sacrifice bunt. Gagai reached on an error as both runners scored.

St. Joseph plays at River Valley Friday.

St. Joseph3002112=940

Elliott County1000000=137

Caleb Blackburn, Cody Blackburn (7) and Pat Gagai. Maynard, Wright (6) and Rowe. W-Ca. Blackburn (12-K, 8-BB). L-Maynard (7-K, 4-BB). B-SJ; Caleb Blackerbun. EC: Rowe, Wright. Hitting-St. Joseph: Pat Gagai 1-5, Caleb Blckburn 1-4, Jerrod Laber 1-3, Scott King 1-1. Elliott County: Wright 1-4, Rowe 1-2, Whitley 1-2.