By Patrick MacCoonRecord Sports EditorDespite the South squad falling short to the North, 8-7, in the Ninth District Junior Legion All-Star Game, several Warrenton players nearly made for a comeback victory.Post 122 had five members appear in the all-star game, which combined for four hits and two scoreless innings of relief.However, the South could not climb back from a 7-0 deficit it faced in the second inning.“It was a fun game,” Warrenton Junior Legion Head Coach Ken Dildine said. “Win or lose, everyone had fun and learned a lot from each other and all the coaches.”The South out-hit the North, 11-6, in the game.Braden Lawson and Chris Vogt each had RBIs for the South after playing crucial roles for Warrenton this season.Lawson, who was picked as an alternate from Warrenton, went 2-for-2 on the day and scored two runs. He also played in the Freshman Legion All-Star Game earlier Saturday afternoon in New Haven.“It was an honor to represent Post 122 in both games,” Lawson said. “It was a lot of fun playing with different people and just getting at-bats and time in the field was awesome.”Matthew Dildine shook off a strikeout in his first at-bat and hit one of two extra base hits for the South with a double his next time around in the lineup. He led Warrenton this season with a .389 batting average.“In Matt’s first at-bat the coaches saw that he pulled out of the box on his swing,” Dildine said. “At least three coaches spotted that and talked with him and the next time around he made the adjustment and laced a double to left field.”The South left eight runners on base and also hurt itself on the defensive side, committing five errors in the game.“We made some mistakes here and there,” Pacific Head Coach Joe Elking said. “They (North) hit the ball well and we just didn’t make the plays at times.”Nick Dabeer, of St. Charles, had a pair of RBIs on a triple for the North.Ashton Oberman, of Hannibal, went 2-4 with an RBI in the winning effort.After the seven-run second inning, the South held the North hitters to just one run in five innings.Warrenton’s Vogt and Devon Oden each threw scoreless frames and combined for four strikeouts for the South.The South’s rally in the bottom of the sixth came up a bit short with Lawson on-deck hoping for a chance to tie the game, but Elking was happy with the way the team fought back.“We had some key hits in certain situations,” he said. “I wish our (Pacific) boys would have contributed. Warrenton’s players were hot. They hit the ball well.”Chris Garrett had a base hit for Warrenton and also scored a run.“All the guys we had out on the field played a strong role in the game,” Dildine said. “This was a fun day for all the kids out here.”Record Sports Writer Jeremy Housewright also contributed to this story.

Warrenton Post 122 Junior Devon Oden slides home during an 8-7 losss for the South All Stars at New Haven Saturday afternoon. Oden singled and pitched a scoreless inning in relief.

Jeremy Housewright photo.