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Washington picked up a key Ninth District win over Daniel Boone, 6-3, Saturday at Rotary Recreational Complex - Ronsick Field.
"Boone is one of the better programs in the Ninth District and we always have a tough game against them and today was no different," Gardner said. Post 218 scored single runs in the first and second innings. Daniel Boone scored twice in the second. Washington added two runs in the third. Daniel Boone cut it to 4-3 in the fourth. Washington added single runs in the fifth and sixth.
Alex Piontek started and went four innings, allowing three runs on three hits and three walks. He struck out five.
"We started Alex Piontek on the mound even though he was coming off of a foot injury we knew he would give us some solid staring pitching," Gardner said. "It was real hot but Alex pitched four good innings."
Brendan Elbert relieved and earned a save by throwing three scoreless innings. He allowed three hits and one walk while striking out two.
Dylan Bielicke, Cody Gardner and Chris Jackson each had two hits in the game. Gardner had a double, scored twice and drove in two.
Getting one hit each were Brett Backhaus, Jack Haddox, Trent Leimkuehler, Mic Fox and Matt Strothkamp. Backhaus, Haddox, Jackson and Fox each scored once. Backhaus, Bielicke, Jackson and Fox each had one RBI.
Backhaus and Jackson each stole two bases. Leimkuehler and Fox each stole one base.
Rock Memorial
As part of Washington's three-team event Saturday, Post 218 closed out the day with a game against Rock Memorial, 8-3.
"As hot as it was it was really difficult to play a second game on Saturday," Gardner said. "Fortunately we have a good group of kids who came off the bench and really played well against Rock Memorial. It was a close game early but we were able to break it open and go on to win 8-3. Cody Coffman had a big day at the plate. Mic Fox pitched a complete game in the heat."
Washington jumped on top with two runs in the first. Rock Memorial scored its three runs in the third. Washington scored twice in the fourth, three times in the fifth and once in the seventh.
Coffman had a huge day with three hits, including two doubles and a triple, one run and six RBIs.
Other hits came from Nathan Aholt, Austin Peirick and Ben Wehner. Lance Conway scored two runs. Mike McGilvray, Peirick, Strothkamp and Cody Gardner each scored once.
Peirick and Wehner each drove in runs.
Fox went the distance on the mound for Post 218. He allowed three runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out one.
St. Charles
"This was a great game to be a part of," Gardner said about Washington's 8-6 loss at Blanchette Park Monday night. "Both teams showed why they are one and two in the district."
Both teams scored in the first inning. St. Charles led 2-1 after two innings, but Washington scored five times in the fifth.
Washington's offensive help came from Conway, Fox, Jackson, Cody Gardner, Bielicke and DJ Smith.
St. Charles got one back in the bottom of that inning and scored five times in the sixth to go ahead to stay.
"Cody Gardner was pitching for us and even though he was struggling a little we felt comfortable with our lead," Mike Gardner said. "We really have to give St. Charles credit as they were able to get runners on base and come up with some key hits in the inning. We brought Cody Coffman into the game with bases loaded and the score 6-5 hoping that he could shut them down. He was able to get the first batter to hit a double play ball to shortstop."
Gardner said Washington had a chance to shut down the rally. However, an injury to regular shortstop Brett Backhaus forced Gardner to make some defensive changes in a critical situation.
Eureka
The ugliest game in recent times took place Sunday as Washington hosted Eureka. Eureka won the game, 15-7.
"Even though we lost the game we really did not play as bad as the scored indicated," Gardner said. "I have been preaching all year how we need to play every pitch of every game whether they are district or nondistrict games, but after playing two on Saturday and with three big districts games left on our schedule I was not disappointed in the outcome against Eureka."
Washington's coaches did not see eye-to-eye with the home plate umpire, who seemed to bicker with everyone in the Washington dugout not playing over the strike zone. At one time, he stopped the game to come over to the Washington dugout.
Coaches Jeff Leimkuehler and Ben Cassat were ejected within moments of each other midway through the game. Leimkuehler went out to the plate between innings with a can of white spray paint, asking if he should paint the plate for the umpire to have a better view. Cassat was ejected for offering his sunglasses to the umpire.
"It was not quite as hot on Sunday but the two games on Saturday took quite a bit out of our team," Gardner said. "We also had issues with the strike zone, but so did Eureka and they were able to handle the situation better than we were."
Warrenton
Washington won at Warrenton last Thursday, 10-1.
"We really came out and hit the ball hard against Warrenton," said Gardner. "Even when we made outs the ball was hit hard. We scored runs in each of the first three innings and went on to win 10-1. Cody Coffman had another fine start going six innings and only allowing the one run."
Offensively, Conway, Leimkuehler, Fox, Backhaus, Jackson, Smith, Haddox and Wehner contributed.
Anheuser-Busch
Washington lost last Wednesday at Anheuser-Busch, 9-2.
"The A-B Coach did note that we had a good showing in Springfield and said that the Sedalia team we beat had beat A-B twice earlier in the year in the Sedalia Memorial Tournament," Gardner said.
