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"Creve Coeur defeated Springfield 11-10 at Ballwin in the late game on Thursday so Post 218 could still advance to the tournament quarterfinals on Saturday with a win over Creve Coeur and winning the tiebreaker based on fewest runs allowed in pool play."
Should Washington win its game over Creve Coeur and advance as the pool winner, it would play Saturday at 9 a.m. at Ballwin Athletic Association against the Dizzy Dean Pool (Springfield Catholic, St. Charles, Ballwin and Sullivan) winner.
There also is the possibility that Post 218 could qualify as a wildcard. Wildcard team No. 1 plays the Stan Musial Pool (Columbia, Thoman Boothe, St. Peters and Kirkwood) Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Eureka High School. The second Wildcard team plays the Red Schoendienst Pool (Mountain Home, Ark., Manchester, De Soto and West) winner at Ballwin Saturday at 11:30 p.m.
The semifinals are set for Saturday at 3 p.m. at both Ballwin and Eureka. The championship game is scheduled for noon Sunday at Ballwin.
O'Fallon
Post 218 opened Mid America Classic action Wednesday by making a statement.
The defending tournament champions got a no-hitter from Blaine Abbott to beat O'Fallon, 4-0.
"The story in this game was Blaine Abbott," Schroeder said. "We were hoping he would have a good outing in his first start on the mound since last summer but he exceeded all expectations with his performance pitching a no-hitter against a pretty good O'Fallon lineup. He was in complete command of his pitches and had a great fastball working which he stuck all evening. His performance was a real shot in the arm for the team after suffering the loss to Troy the night before. If he can pitch like he did in this game the rest of the season, it will give us a real shot at doing well in the district tournament and beyond."
Abbott was coming off of a thumb injury, suffered the night before in a loss to Troy. While tracking a fly ball, Abbott hurt his left thumb and had to leave the game.
But the New Haven High School graduate was ready to go on Thursday. He struck out 11 O'Fallon hitters while walking two in his first start of the season.
Abbott also had to wait through a lightning delay of about a half-hour to pick up the gem.
Offensively, Washington had six hits in the game. Tony Barrow had two hits and drove in two runs. Bryan Strauser belted a solo home run.
"It was also nice to see Bryan Strauser rebound from a tough night the night before to hit a home run in the third inning and give our offense a badly needed spark," Schroeder said.
Glendale
Washington's unbeaten run in the Mid America Classic wilted in the heat Thursday afternoon against Springfield Glendale, 3-1.
Post 218 was limited to just two hits in the game. Barrow placed a single between third base and shortstop in the second inning. David Kellough doubled off the right center field fence in the fifth.
Washington didn't score until the seventh, when the Glendale pitcher struggled with the strike zone and walked the bases loaded with one out. Blake Byrne scored when Justin Sprenger struck out on a wild pitch.
Sprenger was Washington's pitcher in the game and held Glendale to just five hits. The visitors produced a run off of a leadoff double in the first. In the fourth, Glendale added a home run to center field. And in the fifth, Glendale added a third run.
Washington batters struck out 11 times in the game.
Troy
Washington took its second Ninth District loss of the season Tuesday against Troy at Ronsick Field. Post 218 fell to 6-2 in league play.
Troy scored three times in the third and once in each of the next four innings. Post 218 appeared to play by Murphy's Law in the contest. If it could have gone wrong, it likely did.
Troy was able to capitalize and hand David Kellough his first defeat of the season.
Troy was never threatened in the game. Mark Kavanagh was masterful in his time on the hill, striking out 13 Washington batters with his high fastball and dropping offspeed pitches.
Offensively, Sprenger drove in both runs in the game in the eighth inning. Barrow and PJ Nassif each had two hits.
"We just could not get the bats going in this game against a very good Troy pitcher," Schroeder said. "Our hitters were not as disciplined at the plate as you need to be against a high fastball, strikeout type pitcher and the result was a lot of strikeouts and very few hits. That's not a good combination and led to the loss. We also did not play well defensively in the game and you just can't make as many mistakes as we did against a good team like Troy and expect to come away with a win."
