The St. Joseph Flyers showed how you make the best of very little.

The Flyers had just two hits but managed to get a 2-1 win over the Peebles Indians in the Division IV sectional tournament on Saturday.

One reason the Flyers were able to win with just two hits is because pitchers Clay Willis, Zac McGraw and Isaac Whaley limited Peebles to a mere one hit.

“We didn’t have many opportunities, but we took advantage of what we had. We had to play small ball,” said Flyers’ coach Greg Bryant. “We played well defensively. Our outfield of Chase Wilds, Andrew Lawson and Peyton Adkins did a heck of a job.”

Willis went four innings to get the win. He struck out six, walked three and gave up the lone hit. McGraw walked two and yielded the one run while Whaley got the save as he struck out two and did not walk a batter.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when the Flyers scored both of their runs.

Whaley reached on an error and went all the way to third base on a bunt single by McGraw. After McGraw stole second, Whaley scored on a passed ball and McGraw went to third.

Chase Walters then put down a squeeze bunt to score McGraw with what proved to be the winning run.

“Chase did a good job. The pitch was low and away and he still got the bunt down,” said Bryant.

Peebles got their run in the top of the sixth without the aid of a hit.

Ethan Parrett was hit by a pitch but Levi Newkirk hit into a fielder’s choice. Newkirk stole second and went to third on a wild pitch and then Conner Browning hit a sacrifice fly to score the run.

“Isaac Whaley came into a tough situation and got us out of it,” said Bryant. “Clay threw really well. He kept us in the game. Zac didn’t throw bad, he just hasn’t pitched much. Their kid threw pretty hard. He did a good job.”

McGraw had both St. Joseph hits including a double.

Brady Moore got the only hit for Peebles.

St. Joseph will play at Green on Tuesday at 5 p.m. in the sectional finals.

 

Peebles    000    001    0    =    1    1    1
St. Joseph    000    200    x    =    2    2    0

Stephen Penn and Levi Newkirk. Clay Willis, Zac McGraw (5), Isaac Whaley (6) and Zac McGraw, Gage Butler (5), Zac McGraw (6). W-Willis IP-4.0, K-6, BB-3, H-1, R-0). McGraw (IP-0.1, BB-2, ER-1). Save-Whaley (IP-1.2, K-2, BB-0). L-Penn (K-10, BB-1, ER-1). Hitting-Peebles: Brady Moore 1-2; St. Joe: Zac McGraw 2-3 2B.