The Warrenton baseball team notched its first victory of the year in convincing fashion — and got some help from the long ball to make it happen.

Senior Chris Vogt drove in four runs with two home runs en route to a 10-3 win against Duchesne at the St. Charles West Baseball Tournament last Wednesday.

Chris Vogt took the second pitch in the top of the second inning to deep right for the first run of the game. 

Duchesne knocked on the door in the bottom of the second inning when Luke Bentrup blooped a base hit to center, but Warrenton catcher Braden Lawson gunned Bentrup down on a steal attempt. Warrenton pitcher Eli Ecton gave a free pass to the next batter and an infield single by Blake Rufkahr put a runner on third with two outs. A fly out to center field ended the inning and the threat.

The Warriors broke things open in the top of the third inning. Nate Shepard started the inning with a base rap to left center. A sacrifice bunt advanced the sophomore to second and a Duchesne fielding error put him at third. With two on, senior Alex Vogt smoked a ball to dead center for a double to score Shepard. Chris Vogt got his second homer of the game in the next at-bat, this time taking a pitch to right field. The three-run shot scored Alex Vogt and junior Garrison Hibbs to make the score 5-0.

Warrenton Head Coach Eric Burle said he was pleased with how his team took advantage of fielding miscues and was able to produce runs. 

“I know in the box score for our first two games it doesn’t look like we hit the ball real well, but in those games we had some tough outs. We were able to hit the ball with authority. It really was just a matter of time before we had a game like this and hits fell in. I have confidence we will hit the ball well throughout the season as long as we keep up the same approaches at the plate,” Burle said.

Ecton held the Pioneers scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning. A base hit to left field with one by Rufkahr started off the offense off for Duchesne. Michael Oleson followed suit with a single of his own to advance Rufkahr to third. Kyle Fischer drove a ball to left to score Oleson for the Pioneers’ first run of the game. A walk to Nick Budrovich, with the bases loaded, scored another run and a wild pitch pushed across the final run of the game for Duchesne. 

Ecton allowed five hits on the day for Warrenton in grabbing the win. The senior struck out eight and walked four in six innings of work. Sophomore Adrian Ochoa allowed a hit and struck on one in relief.

Burle said Ecton has pitched well so far this season.

“Our defense has really kind of been the bugaboo for us in the first two games and it’s been a point of emphasis for us in practices and we had a couple of games where maybe we didn’t play as clean. Part of that is – and I know this is true for everyone – we’ve had some challenges with the weather. We got that taken care of. I know we are going to play some tough teams throughout the season and these kids will be up to the challenge, especially with a pitcher like Eli, who will do well for us.”

Warrenton responded in the top of the sixth inning with four runs. Junior Cody Herzog found himself aboard after a Duchesne fielding error. Senior Dylan O’Neal drew a walk to put runners at first and second. Payton Holstine’s sacrifice bunt moved runners over 90 feet for Trent McGee, whose sacrifice fly scored Herzog. Alex Vogt scored O’Neal on a single down the third base line to make the score 8-3. The Vogts combined for four hits and six RBIs in the game. Lawson’s line drive up the middle scored a pair of runs in the inning to round out the scoring. The senior had a pair of hits and three RBI in the game. 

For Duchesne, Jake Korba took the loss on the mound, allowing six runs on five hits. He struck out two.

Warrenton 3, Ritenour 1: The Warriors also grabbed an extra-innings victory against Ritenour in the final game of the St. Charles West Tournament. Ecton, Shepard and Alex Vogt had RBIs in the final inning, where Ritenour pitching combined for 13 strikeouts. On the mound for Warrenton, Chris Vogt got the win, striking out six in five innings of work. Chris Vogt and Ochoa combined for nine strikeouts and walked just one in a game where the pair allowed just three hits.  Alex Vogt went 2-for-4 in the game and McGee had three hits.