While not in the same district, Washington and Jefferson City have developed a pretty healthy baseball rivalry over the years.
So, when the two teams were matched up against each other in a Blue Springs Tournament crossover game Friday, it was no surprise that the game at Hidden Valley No. 3 was hotly contested.
Washington won the game, 2-1, but needed to score in the bottom of the seventh inning to take the victory.
Grant Eckelkamp singled home the winning run to lift Post 218 to the victory.
“It was good to see Jefferson City in the Tournament as they are a potential opponent in the Zone Tournament,” Post 218 Manager Mike Gardner said. “Although the game did not really mean anything in the tournament standings both teams played really well.”
Post 5 went 1-2 in National League East Division pool play prior to playing Washington.
The game was added in this year due to fewer teams playing in the tournament than in previous years.
Post 218 sent Luke Hasenjaeger to the hill and he shut down Post 5 for much of the game. Washington gave him a lead in the bottom of the third, but Post 5 tied it in the fifth.
Zach Pointer relieved and earned the victory when Washington scored in the bottom of the seventh.
“Luke Hasenjaeger pitched a great game for us and when he was in a little jam Zach Pointer came in and closed the door,” Gardner said.
Washington outhit Jefferson City, 9-5, and Post 5 made the game’s only error.
Eckelkamp, Sam Deschenes and Jack Kopmann each had two hits in the game. Eckelkamp and Noah Borgerding drove in runs.
