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Washington beat one of the hottest teams from the 10th District Friday night, taking out Creve Coeur by a 3-1 score. That victory helped Washington win the Ozzie Smith Pool title. Washington had lost Thursday to Glendale after beating O'Fallon Wednesday.
On Monday, Post 218 returned to Ninth District action with a key league game against West, another Mid America Classic quarterfinalist. West lost Saturday to Thoman Boothe, which went on to take second place (losing to House Springs in the title game, 4-2).
Overall, Schroeder was pleased, but knows Washington needs better production to win games.
"We did not give up many runs in the tournament (only nine in four games ) but we had more strikeouts at the plate than hits (33-23)," said Schroeder. "That ratio has to change if we are going to improve our run production and score more runs to win close games like this win instead of losing them. Our players are aware of this and I am confident we are going to change that around before the season's over."
St. Charles
It took nine innings, but St. Charles Post 312 edged the Washington Post 218 Seniors Saturday morning in the quarterfinals of the Mid America Classic in Ballwin, 3-2.
Bryan Nelson drove in Thomas Jarka with a two-out single to left center field in the top of the ninth with the go-ahead run. Washington had the tying run on second with one out after Justin Sprenger doubled, but could not score.
"Just as in our other loss in the tournament to Springfield Glendale, we got good pitching, played good defense, and competed hard but just did not hit the ball well enough to come away with a win against St. Charles and advance to the tournament semifinals," Schroeder said. "I was very proud of the way we battled to score two runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game and send us to extra innings. We were just a hit away from winning the game in that inning and just a hit away from tying the game again in the bottom of the ninth but came up short."
Jacob Trentmann pitched a complete game for Washington. With the exception of a couple of two-out hits, Trentmann had the chance to escape with a shutout.
"I would have really liked to have seen us win this game not just to advance in the tournament but to reward Jacob Trentmann for an outstanding performance on the mound against a really good St. Charles lineup," Schroeder said. "He pitched all nine innings walking just one batter and allowing just three runs. That's good enough to win many games but not this one as we were only able to score two runs on just six hits."
St. Charles scored first when Nelson came through with a two-out single in the second inning to plate Jarka and Adam Dennis. Lefty Jacob Couch kept Washington guessing for much of the game and got some key defensive plays behind him.
Washington finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh. Tony Barrow led off with a single and took second on a wild pitch. Sprenger doubled him home with a hit to left center.
St. Charles sent Brandon Chowning out to pitch and he coaxed a pop-up bunt from David Kellough. Sprenger took third on a wild pitch.
After Zach Ley walked (and was replaced by runner Jacob Martin), Brandon Niederholtmeyer grounded to shortstop.
The ball was bobbled, but St. Charles still had a chance at a double play. As Post 312 was forcing Martin at second, Sprenger, who had three hits in the game, crossed the plate. With the relay throw heading to first, Niederholtmeyer hustled down the line. He dove for the bag and got a hand on the base before the throw made it there. The game was tied and when Washington couldn't add to the lead, the game went into extra innings.
St. Charles had a chance in the eighth, but Kellough made a leaping spear of a line drive at second base to stop a rally.
"There is a very good chance we will see St. Charles again in another important game down the road so we will have to improve if we expect a different outcome," said Schroeder.
Creve Coeur
By virtue of a 7-3 win over Creve Coeur Friday night at Rotary Recreational Complex - Ronsick Field, the Washington Post 218 Senior Legion team will have a chance to defend its Mid America Classic title.
"Our problem has been getting on the scoreboard ourselves but we were able to get some timely hitting in this game and score seven runs which was more than enough to pick up the win," said Schroeder.
Washington needed to beat Creve Coeur Friday to have a chance. Post 218 was 1-1 in its pool after beating O'Fallon Wednesday and losing to Glendale Thursday. Those two teams played to an eight-inning tie in the other Friday pool game.
"We continued our string of good pitching and good defense in the pool play games of the tournament and that led to the win over Creve Coeur and an opportunity for us to play on Saturday in the quarterfinals," Schroeder said.
Washington got five innings of work from Nick Biermann, who was the winning pitcher, allowing two earned runs on five hits.
"Nick Biermann had another good outing on the mound for us against a good hitting Creve Coeur lineup," Schroeder said. "He issued a few more bases on balls than we would like to see but made some very good pitches when he needed to and was able to pitch around most of the walks. Nick is now 4-0 on the season and gaining confidence with each start on the mound for us."
Patrick Johnson relieved with the bases loaded and no outs and was able to escape with only one run scoring. A double play from third baseman David Kellough to first baseman Tony Barrow ended the threat.
"Patrick Johnson did a great job for us in relief to pick up the save," Schroeder said. "He got out of a bases loaded no-out jam in the sixth that could have really given Creve Coeur the momentum in the game and then pitched a scoreless seventh to preserve the win for Nick. That was not an easy situation for Patrick to be put in but he handled it extremely well."
Washington, held to two hits in the loss to Glendale Thursday, met that number in the first inning alone. Bryan Strauser led off with a double and scored on a single by Blake Bryne with one out. Byrne ended up going 3-4 with one RBI.
Creve Coeur tied the game in the top of the third. Washington scored three times in the fourth to go back on top. Justin Sprenger led off by reaching on an error. Keaton Rohlfing singled. Both runners advanced on a passed ball and scored on a double by Blaine Abbott.
Strauser brought Abbott home with a triple to the center field fence to make it 4-1.
After Creve Coeur scored in the top of the fifth, Washington got that run back. Kellough made Creve Coeur pay for a two-out walk, coming home when Brandon Niederholtmeyer struck out on a wild pitch.
Creve Coeur cut it to 5-3 in the sixth, but Washington got two more runs. With one out, PJ Nassif walked and Byrne singled. Tony Barrow then reached on an error to load the bases.
Sprenger delivered a two-run single to give Washington the insurance it would need.
"All the guys in the lineup know we need to start scoring more runs as a team in order to be more successful," said Schroeder. "Hopefully, this game was a step in that direction."
