While the Washington Post 218 Seniors did suffer their first baseball loss of the season over the weekend, it did not come in a Ninth District contest.
The good news is that Post 218 won district games Friday over Daniel Boone 3-2 and Saturday over Clarksville 7-0.
Washington (9-1, 8-0) lost Sunday to Creve Coeur, 2-1.
All three games were played at Ronsick Field.
Daniel Boone
Austin Rettke’s game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth inning broke a tie and gave Post 218 a 3-2 victory Friday over Daniel Boone.
“Daniel Boone played us tough. The game could have gone either way,” said Post 218 Manager Mike Gardner. “Austin really came through for us in the bottom of the ninth with the game-winning hit down the right field line.”
Washington scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning to grab a 2-0 advantage.
Daniel Boone tied the game with two runs in the top of the seventh inning, leaving the bases loaded in the process.
Tony Helfrich got the start on the mound for Post 218 in a no-decision. In 6.1 innings, he allowed two runs on seven hits with one walk and six strikeouts.
Trent Leimkuehler worked the final 1.2 frames to earn the win. He allowed no runs on one hit with one walk and one strikeout.
“We again had great starting pitching from Tony Helfrich,” Gardner said. “He seemed to tire a little in the seventh inning and we needed great relief pitching from Trent Leimkuehler to keep Boone from scoring any more runs.”
Washington’s defense helped the pitching staff.
“We played great defense, turning three double plays,” Gardner said. “Sam Deschenes made a spectacular diving catch late in the game. We were able to turn it into a double play that kept Boone from scoring and taking the lead.”
Sam Deschenes led Washington’s six-hit attack with three hits and one run.
Rettke (double) had one hit and one RBI.
Dustin Howard and Leimkuehler both added one hit.
Grant Eckelkamp and Jack Kopmann both scored a run.
Clarksville
Washington cruised to a 7-0 win in nine innings Saturday over Clarksville.
“It was a solid victory for us,” Gardner said. “We continued to pitch really well and play good defense.”
Post 218 scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning, two in the sixth and two in the eighth.
Brendan Kleekamp tossed seven shutout innings to earn the win. He registered 10 strikeouts while allowing four hits and one walk.
Dustin Howard pitched the final two frames. He allowed no runs or hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
“Brendan gave us seven great innings,” Gardner said. “Brendan and Dustin combined to have 14 strikeouts in the game.”
Post 218 collected 11 hits in the contest.
Matt Jones (one double), Cody Gardner (one double), Eckelkamp (one triple) and Deschenes each finished with two hits. Jones added two RBIs. Gardner scored a run. Deschenes had one RBI, one run and two stolen bases. Eckelkamp had two runs and one RBI.
Andrew Sumner (double), Dilan Bollmann and Mike McGilvray each collected one hit. McGilvray also drew a walk and had one RBI.
Luke Hasenjaeger and Rettke both walked and scored. Leimkuehler scored a run.
Creve Coeur
Creve Coeur (12-4) handed Post 218 its first loss of the season Sunday in eight innings, 2-1.
Jonathan Rembold (Parkway Central) tossed a three-hitter for Creve Coeur to earn the win.
“We really did not take the best approach at the plate and make the proper adjustments. Their pitcher, Jonathan Rembold, really had a lot to do with it,” Gardner said. “He was able to consistently hit the outside corner and the umpire was generous in calling that pitch a strike.”
Brendan Feldmann was the starting pitcher for Post 218. In seven plus innings, he allowed two runs run on six hits with one walk and six strikeouts.
McGilvray tossed one inning, allowing no runs, hits or walks while striking out one.
Trailing 1-0, Post 218 tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning on an RBI double by McGilvray.
Creve Coeur took a 2-1 lead in the top of the eighth inning.
“Brendan pitched a great game for us and deserved a better outcome,” Gardner said. “We had a chance to score in the bottom of the eighth inning, but we were a little unlucky when Sam Deschenes scorched a line drive to the third baseman that turned into a double play to end the game.”
Jones, Gardner and McGilvray each had one hit for Post 218. Gardner also drew a walk. Bollmann walked twice.
Washington hosts Wentzville Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. Post 218 plays Saturday at Elsberry at 1 p.m. and at Manchester at 4 p.m. On Sunday, Post 218 plays a doubleheader at Festus at 1 p.m.
