Despite missing representatives from host Washington Post 218, there still was plenty to cheer about at the Ninth District Junior Legion All-Star Game.The contest, played Saturday at Rotary Recreational Complex - Ronsick Field, ended with a 6-4 North Division victory.With Post 218, the regular season and tournament champion, still playing in the Junior Legion State Tournament in Joplin, South Division Manager Cory Cowsert of Pacific had to make due with the players he had.“With Washington being gone, it was tough to fill in some gaps today,” said Cowsert.Post 320, the district runner-up in both the regular season standings and district tournament, had six representatives in the game. They helped the South squad take a 4-1 lead through the first four innings before the North Division rallied to take the lead with five runs.“Even in an All-Star Game, you’ve got to keep the runners close to the base,” acknowledged Pacific Manager Cory Cowsert. “That’s what lost the game for us today, was that we didn’t hold the runners close and they were stealing everything.”Still, Cowsert was thrilled with the showing by Pacific, which had six representatives.“They had a lot of fun, and it was a great way to finish a good year,” said Cowsert.Drew Fonner started and ended the game strong, representing Pacific well. He opened the game with a double and promptly put his team ahead 1-0 after scoring on a consecutive double by Wentzville’s JP Brandt.Pacific’s Noah Brocato took the mound for the South in the bottom of the inning, recording a pair of strikeouts. He also tossed the second inning, whiffing another pair of batters.“Noah threw the ball well the first two innings and shut them down,” said Cowsert.The South remained in control in the second, as New Haven’s Ben Held reached by error and scored after consecutive hits, including one by Pacific’s Tyler Gerling.“Gerling played up for us all year, and he showed today against better pitching that he has no problem hitting,” said Cowsert.Extending the lead to 4-0 in the third, Held and Tyler Straatmann of Pacific each advanced home after reaching on errors.New Haven’s Matt Miller pitched the third and fourth innings, striking out three, while allowing four hits and two runs.During the third inning, the North team put itself on the board with a sacrifice fly. It continued the rally against Pacific’s Ryan Ray.“Ryan said it was different throwing to a catcher that he wasn’t used to, which I can completely understand,” said Cowsert. “It wasn’t like he was throwing to his natural catcher.”Wentzville’s Karl Bleikamp started at catcher but exited the game after a collision with a runner. Teammate Billy Laretto then took over behind the plate.The North unloaded five runs in the fifth inning, using three hits and a sacrifice fly to take advantage.Fonner took the mound in the sixth, striking out one batter.

The North team defeated the South 6-4 during the Ninth District Legion All-Star game on Saturday.

Derrick Forsythe Photo.