By Patrick MacCoonRecord Sports EditorDonovan Mozee wasn’t having the best game, but that didn’t prevent him from coming through when his team needed him most.At times, the slugger was even beside himself as frustration mounted from strikeouts, a broken bat and being picked off at first base.However, the 10th inning was Mozee’s for the taking at Wentzville on Tuesday night.After a balk advanced runners to second and third with one out and a base open in a 2-2 tie, the cleanup hitter lined a base hit to deep right field to plate Troy Muse and Ben Stephens.For the second time in as many days, Mozee came away with the game-winning hit for Post 122 Senior Legion.He also relieved winning pitcher Tyler Brittain in the 10th and stranded his inherited runner while striking out two to give Warrenton a 4-2 victory. His second save of the season gave his team its sixth straight win.“Going out to finish the game I just wanted to throw strikes,” Mozee said. “I knew my defense had me. I just had to throw strikes and get the ball game over.”While the odds did not go in his favor at times, Mozee was grateful he was given a chance to hit. Unlike most teams that would have walked him with a free base open, Wentzville paid for its decision.“Yes and no,” Mozee replied when asked if he was surprised he was pitched to with the game on the line. “I wasn’t hitting the ball at all today before that at-bat. I made my mistakes tonight, but I just wanted to put the ball in play and pick our team up.”Post 122 (7-2) once again was given a brilliant start by Stephens, who went eight innings and struck out a summer league-high 16 batters.The hard-throwing right-hander at one point struck out four straight and ended his outing by catching his opponent looking on a sharp breaking ball for the third strike. However, four errors in the field left Stephens with a no decision.“It’s like a double-edged sword when he is pitching,” Post 122 Senior Legion Head Coach Scott Butler said. “He gets lots of strikeouts, but at times the defense isn’t ready for any sort of contact at all. But, we made the plays when we had to.”With his number called upon, with regular starting third baseman Taylor Duvel out of town, Chris Garrett played a major role to help keep Warrenton’s winning streak alive.Soon after running themselves off the bases, Garrett denied momentum and an extra-base hit for Wentzville to start the bottom of the ninth.While being the youngest player on the Post 122 roster, Garrett’s focus and timing helped him make a diving stop on a hard hit ground ball down the line at third base. With relative ease he got back to his feet and threw out the runner by several steps.Not only did his defense prove timely, but the upcoming junior also drove in a run with a single to right field in the fifth and scored the tying run in the top of the eighth off a single to left by Stephens.“Chris has proven himself,” Butler said. “With play like this, he is going to make me continue to put the pen down on his name. He is starting to mature and it’s showing.”Warrenton found revenge Tuesday night against the team that bested them back on June 2. Ever since then Butler’s squad hasn’t lost.“The mark of a good team is to find ways to win, no matter if you play ugly, great or mediocre,” he said. “These guys have found ways to get tallies in the win column. It’s the mark of a good team.”
Donovan Mozee came through in the 10th inning with a two-run single and recorded a save on the mound in Post 122's victory at Wentzville on Tuesday. Mozee's clutch hit gave the Warrenton Senior Legion baseball team its sixth straight win.
Patrick MacCoon photo.
