By Patrick MacCoonRecord Sports EditorSoon after the Warrenton Senior Legion baseball team’s season came to a close in the Zone 1 Tournament, Scott Butler was offered words of respect from an opposing coach.While the first-year head coach for the Post 122 Seniors helped piece together the winningest season the program had since he played last in 2006, a year in which they advanced to the district tournament championship game, he knew things couldn’t have been accomplished without the help of some battle-tested players on his roster.“The St. Charles coach pulled me aside after the game and told me, ‘You helped change the program,’ ” Butler said. “As much as I appreciated those kind words, it was those five seniors who played their last game for this program who helped make the change this year too.”Taylor Duvel, Corey Eckenfels, Airk Rader, Ben Stephens and Brandon Moeller will never return again to play another summer Legion baseball contest for Warrenton, but in their final go-around each one of them left his mark on the program.The five leaders combined for 114 hits in 333 at-bats (.342 batting average) and drove in 64 runs in 21 games. On the mound, Stephens, Moeller and Duvel compiled 11 of the team’s 14 wins and struck out 162 batters in 127 2/3 innings while only allowing 30 earned runs (2.12 earned run average).Between Duvel, Eckenfels, Rader and Moeller, the four spent 23 years in the Warrenton Legion program before any of them ever made it to the zone tournament. For Stephens, it was his first year after playing select baseball throughout high school.“They all embraced this season and took it all in during the postseason,” Butler said. “I’m so happy for the four that have been here for so long because of how much they have been through. This is the end of an era really. The younger guys on this team and double-roster members were able to learn from a great group and they want to be like these guys when they are their age, too.”While Stephens wasn’t around for the hardships of losing seasons one after the other, he considered himself fortunate to come in at the right time and help make a change. He led Post 122 with a .419 batting average and 22 runs batted in. His talent on the pitching mound was even greater as he struck out 10-plus batters in six of his eight starts and averaged 13.9 strikeouts per nine innings.“This season has meant a lot to me,” Stephens said. “This was my first year with the program, but I know these other four worked really hard to get where we are at. It was nice to come in and be able to help out. Everything we’ve done this year can be carried forward.”Eckenfels remembers his favorite memory from the season being his two-out RBI-single that hugged the left field line to tie a contest against Washington at Warrenton High School on July 5. Eckenfels hit .327 during the season and helped spark one of two wins against the powerhouse that he had never been able to beat in his six-year Legion career.“This was an amazing season,” said Eckenfels, who served as a designated hitter, outfielder and second baseman during the season. “For six years, we (Warrenton) had nothing but losing seasons. No one ever really wanted to play and it was hard to get people to come to our games. This year, everybody showed up and we changed this program. My hit against Washington I will always remember.”With a patient approach at the plate, Duvel finished second on the team with 14 walks and also tied for the team lead with one triple. In an 11-1 win against O’Fallon this season, Duvel went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.“I’ve been here since I was a freshman,” Duvel said. “Coming into this season, we had four wins combined over the past three years. Having this season to go out on is great.”Previous to this season, the four longtime players had never defeated Washington and had always been run-ruled by the Ninth District powerhouse. To outscore the Post 218 9-3 in two games was something Rader and all of his teammates can treasure.Rader hit .298 with two doubles in 16 games and ended the regular season with a 3-for-3 performance in which he walked twice.“I’ve been here with the program for six years and this season we have collectively blown out all the records we had before this year on our teams,” Rader said. “Just beating Washington twice made it all that better.”For Moeller, another six-year Legion member, his dedication and play on the field helped lead his team to a second-place finish in the Ninth District regular season standings. The shortstop and pitcher for Post 122 hit .405 and won four games on the mound.“I have played a lot of ball with these guys,” Moeller said. “We’ve had some not so great seasons, but this year surpassed my wildest dreams. I couldn’t have asked for a better season to go out on.”The departing players for Warrenton this year listened to the message and motto their coach wanted them to live by, which was change.“They had the will to change something around them that was bigger than themselves,” Butler said. “This year is definitely going to foreshadow the rest of our future and help get rid of the dark cloud over this program. I give our leaders this season a lot of the credit. They leave here as winners.”

From left, Brandon Moeller, Ben Stephens, Airk Rader, Taylor Duvel and Corey Eckenfels pose together after playing their last game for Post 122. All five seniors had strong seasons and helped Warrenton reach the zone tournament. Patrick MacCoon photo.

Patrick MacCoon photo.