Three Washington Post 218 Freshman Legion pitchers combined to toss a no-hitter Thursday at De Soto.
Post 218 (22-1, 7-0) won that game, 7-0, and also beat Manchester Tuesday at Rotary Recreational Complex - Ronsick Field to bounce back from its first loss of the season last Sunday.
Washington jumps right back into action this weekend. Post 218 is scheduled to play a 5:30 p.m. game against Eureka at Ellisville Saturday. On Sunday, Post 218 will go to Elsberry for a Ninth District doubleheader starting at 11 a.m.
Washington hosts West in a Ninth District doubleheader Tuesday at 6 p.m.
On Wednesday, St. Peters comes to town for a 6 p.m. league game.
De Soto
Ryan Becszlko, Logan Holdmeyer and Evan Ayers combined for the no-hitter Thursday in De Soto.
“Becszlko, Holdmeyer and Ayers all were very impressive on the mound,” Post 218 Manager Kevin Juergens said. “They all should be ready now for the upcoming weekend and we can use any of the three as needed. The thing I like most about these three pitchers in particular is that they keep working on their game and every time they go out they seem to be better than the last time they went out. I think our whole pitching staff is taking everything a littler bit personal on the mound right now. Everyone seems to be really dialed in when they go to the mound. Our pitchers are really going out to compete and see how good they can get.”
Becszlko started and pitched two innings while striking out two.
Holdmeyer relieved, walking one but striking out five.
Ayers struck out three over two innings of work.
Post 218 made the most of its chances. Washington had just two hits, singles by John Himmelberg and Spencer Juergens. Himmelberg scored once and drove in two. Juergens drove in one run.
“Their pitchers had a rough time finding the plate,” Juergens said. “I was overall happy with our at bats we had some kids working on some things and everyone seem to have a good approach at the plate.”
But Washington took advantage of four De Soto errors (Post 218 made two), eight walks and six hit batters.
Nick Thiel and Matt Miller each walked twice while Micah McNeal, Justin Baylard, Gus Kleekamp and Max Diener each drew one walk.
McNeal and Diener each scored twice. Other runs came from Nathaniel Hillermann and Thiel.
Hillermann was hit by two pitches. Thiel, Miller, Baylard and Todd Feldmann also were hit by pitches.
Post 218 continued to put the game into motion with nine stolen bases. Hillermann, McNeal and Diener each stole two bases. Juergens, Thiel and Miller each had one stolen base.
Manchester
Post 218 won a nonleague game over Manchester Tuesday at Rotary Recreational Complex - Ronsick Field, 5-1.
Washington opened scoring in the third inning with one run and then added four more runs in the fourth.
Manchester scored its run in the top of the fifth.
Washington outhit Manchester, 7-4. Manchester committed four errors to one for Post 218.
Juergens pitched for Washington, allowing an unearned run on four hits while striking out six batters. He made just 78 pitches while going the distance.
“You could tell right from the start he knew exactly what he wanted to do on the mound and he went out and did it,” Juergens said. “He made Manchester put the ball in play and our defense was ready to go.”
Juergens also drove in the game’s first run.
Baylard was Washington’s only batter with multiple hits, ending with two.
“Justin Baylard had a great night going 2-3 with an RBI, but more importantly he threw out two base runners — one trying to steal second and one trying to steal third. He had a little extra pep in his step last night and he was very impressive.”
Himmelberg, Juergens, Hillermann and Becszlko each had one hit.
Hillermann, Thiel, Kleekamp, Baylard and Becszlko scored the runs.
Himmelberg drove in two while Juergens, Kleekamp and Baylard each had one RBI.
Himmelberg and Hillermann drew walks.
Thiel, McNeal and Kleekamp sacrificed. Himmelberg, Kleekamp, Baylard and Becszlko stole bases.
While Washington struggled at times in the field, Post 218 ended the game on a double play from the shortstop to the first baseman.
