By Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

NEW BOSTON — Three Dog Night sang the song, “Eli’s Coming.” The St. Joseph Flyers were singing, “Eli’s Here.”

Freshman Eli Whaley made his debut on the mound as a starting pitcher and turned in 3 strong innings to get the win as the Flyers blasted the New Boston Tigers 18-2 in a run rule Southern Ohio Conference win on Thursday.

Whaley gave up 2 hits, an unearned run with 3 strikeout and 2 walks to win his debut.

Carson Lyons finished up and gave up 2 hits and an earned run with 6 strikeouts and 2 walks in his 2 innings.

“Eli threw strikes. He got in a little jam in one inning but he kept his composure and got a double play to get out of it,” said Flyers’ coach Greg Bryant.

“We got a chance to play some of our younger guys and they did a good job.”

St. Joseph (6-1, 4-1) went up 2-0 in the first inning when Landon Rowe was hit by a pitch, Darryn “Hitman” Harvey, Brady “Quinn” Medinger and Lyons all walked for a run. Evan Balestra grounded out as Harvey scored.

The Flyers got a run in the second when Kemper Kerecman walked, stole second and third and scored on a throwing error.

New Boston (0-7, 0-5) got a run in the bottom of the inning when Gabe Dickerson reached on a one-out error, stole second, moved up on a. Hit by Colton Maynard and scored on another error.

But the Flyers answered with 5 runs in the third inning.

Lyons walked, stole second and scored on a hit by Balestra. Carson Willis reached on an error as Balestra scored and Ian Whaley was safe on an error that scored Willis.

Eli Whaley and Harvey walked and Medinger singled home 2 runs.

The lead ballooned to 15-1 in the fourth inning.

Balestra singled, Carter Johnson walked, Rex Weber grounded out and Balestra scored on a passed ball. Darian Barker then singled to score Johnson.

Eli Whaley doubled home Barker, Blake Medinger singled, Mason Weber was hit by a pitch, Whaley then scored on a pickoff attempt.

Brody West and Lyons walked and Balestra hit a sacrifice fly.

St. Joseph got its final 3 runs in the top of the fifth.

Eli Whaley walked, Blake Medinger and Mason Weber singled to load the bases andLyons singled home Whaley. Balestra hit into a fielder’s choice for a run, Johnson walked and Rex Weber singled home a run.

The Tigers got a run in the bottom of the fifth when Timmy Conkel was hit by a pitch, Brison Goodman walked, and Anson Bradley and Devin Allard walked to force home Conkel.

The Flyers had 8 players collect a total of 11 hits with Balestra 2-4 with 4 RBI, Blake Medinger 2-2, Rex Weber 2-3 with an RBI, Mason Weber 1-1, Lyons 1-1 with 3 RBI, Barker 1-3 with an RBI, Eli Whaley 1-2 with an RBI and Brady “Quinn” Medinger 1-2 with 2 RBI.

St. Joseph 215 73 = 18 11 2

New Boston 010 01 = 2 4 3

Eli Whaley, Carson Lyons (4) and Evan Balestra. C.J. Dickerson, Devin Allard (4) and Colton Maynard. W-Whaley (IP-3.0, H-2, R-1, ER-0, K-3, BB-2). Lyons (IP-2,0, H-2, R-1, ER-1, K-6, BB-2, HBP-1). L-Dickerson (IP-3.1, H-6, R-15, ER-11, K-3, BB-11). Allard (IP-1.2, H-5, R-3, ER-3, K-3, BB-4). Hitting-St. Joseph: Blake Medinger 2-2, Mason Weber 1-1, Brady “Quinn” Medinger 1-2 2-RBI, Carson Lyons 1-1 3-RBI, Evan Balestra 2-4 4-RBI, Rex Weber 2-3 RBI, Darian Barker 1-3 RBI, Eli Whaley 1-2 RBI 2B; New Boston: Anson Bradley 2-3, Austin Goodman 1-3 2B, Colton Maynard 1-2.