It’s safe to say the Washington Post 218 Senior Legion team didn’t want to go to extra innings again.
Washington (15-6, 10-1) needed seven innings to defeat Central Wednesday at Rotary Recreational Complex - Ronsick Field, 15-4.
The game followed the 15-inning epic loss to West Sunday in the championship game of the Post 218 Wood Bat Showcase, 8-7.
“I was a little concerned that we would come out flat after losing the tournament championship game in 15 innings so I was really pleased with the way we played against Central,” Post 218 Manager Mike Gardner said. “We came out and jumped on them quickly and never looked back.”
Post 218 returns to action Friday with another district game at Blanchette Park in St. Charles. First pitch against Post 312 is set for 8:30 p.m.
“We control our own destiny in the district and really need to keep playing at a high level in order to come out on top,” Gardner said.
On Sunday, Washington will host a nondistrict doubleheader against Moberly with the first game beginning at 1 p.m.
In Wednesday’s game, Washington started the scoring early. Post 218 put three runs on the board in the first inning.
Each team scored once in the second. Central scored twice in the third while Washington added another run to make it 5-3.
Post 218 exploded for six runs in the fourth. Each team scored once in the fifth and Washington scored the final three runs in the sixth inning.
When Central failed to score in the seventh, Washington won the game on the 10-run mercy rule.
Post 218 outhit Central in the game, 12-7. Central made four errors to Washington’s one.
Luke Hasenjaeger was the winning pitcher for Post 218. He went five innings while allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and three walks. He fanned seven batters.
“Luke had a little mechanical problem early with his delivery but once he figured it out he was really much more in command of his pitches,” said Gardner.
Brendan Feldmann pitched the final two innings, striking out one.
“Brendan Feldmann came and shut them down the last two innings,” Gardner said.
Offensively, Trent Leimkuehler led the offense with five hits. He needed just a home run to complete the cycle.
“Trent had a big day at the plate,” Gardner said..
Mike McGilvray and Jack Kopmann each had two hits. McGilvray doubled.
Matt Jones, Sam Deschenes and Austin Rettke ended with one hit apiece. Deschenes and Rettke doubled.
McGilvray and Jones scored three runs apiece. Deschenes and Kopmann each crossed the plate twice. Leimkuehler, Brendan Kleekamp, Noah Borgerding, Rettke and Andrew Sumner scored one run apiece.
Leimkuehler, Kopmann and Rettke each had two RBIs. Grant Eckelkamp, McGilvray, Jones, Deschenes, Kleekamp, Borgerding and Cody Gardner each drove in one run.
Eckelkamp, McGilvray, Deschenes, Kleekamp, Borgerding, Tony Helfrich and Sumner walked.
Jones chipped in with a sacrifice fly. Rettke was hit by two pitches. Eckelkamp, Jones and Borgerding were hit by one pitch each.
Leimkuehler and Helfrich each stole bases.
Travis Vaught was the losing pitcher for Central. Scott Huesemann pitched the final inning.
Roger Robinson and David Beecher each had two hits for Central and each doubled.
Other doubles came from Huesemann and Corey Blase.
