By Patrick MacCoonRecord Sports EditorWhile the lights were turned out on the Warrenton Freshman Legion baseball team this past week in a short-lived district tournament, the future remains bright.In the final two innings of a 9-1 season-ending loss to Pacific, Post 122 had five eighth-graders out on the field to give its team an early glimpse of what to expect next summer.“These young players competed this whole season,” Warrenton Freshman Legion Head Coach Jamey Sherman said, whose team finished with six wins and a playoff appearance in his first season. “Those five eighth-graders are going to play Freshman ball again next year and be a big part of this team.”Among those expected to grow in the offseason are Jay Napier, Camron Swaringen, Logan Dowd, Kyle Filbeck and Adrian Ochoa.The youngest members of Post 122 earned valuable playing time and scored 11 of the team’s 80 runs this summer. Despite not earning starts on a regular basis, they understood this season was a build up for the future.“It was fun to watch them grow,” Sherman said. “For the youngest ones, it was big for them to compete at the 60-foot, 6-inch level this season. Now that they have a taste of what it’s like, it’s their job to go out and take the extra strides this offseason to make themselves even better ballplayers.”Some of the more experienced and older players who played both for the Freshman and Junior Legion programs this season were Alex Vogt, Chris Vogt, Braden Lawson, Eli Ecton, Dylan O’Neal and Kory Schneidermeyer. Mitch Burnette, Kole Hammerberg and Brendan Schanuel also were consistent presences out on the field for Post 122.For Swaringen, his first experience with Legion baseball was a strong one in which he assumed lots of responsibility from the start.The right-hander appeared in a team-high eight games on the mound and posted a 4.62 earned run average in 16 2/3 innings as a reliever. His 14 strikeouts finished fourth best for Warrenton.“This season was fun to be a part of Legion,” said Swaringen. “I felt strongly about it and I felt like I was growing as I pitched. I expected myself to throw strikes this season and strike out a lot of hitters. I just have to keep getting better from here.”In the district tournament, Swaringen was called on in relief and threw three innings while striking out two. He also escaped a bases-loaded jam with one out as he pounded the strike zone and forced two infield fly outs.“Camron always came out and competed this year,” Sherman said. “We used him a lot because he threw strikes. He’s young, but he was still able to get guys out.”While Sherman and his assistant coaches expect a season-long investment out of many of their players, they also wanted to make sure those they taught had an enjoyable experience this season.“For these freshman guys I’m their first exposure to Legion baseball,” he said. “I try to reflect a positive light and not try to be an iron-fist coach. I try to be upbeat and positive in my coaching because these guys help shape the future for coming seasons of baseball in Warrenton.”For Swaringen and many others, the start to Legion baseball was a positive beginning they can grow on throughout the coming years.“The practices and pitching lessons were fun this year, but the best part was being out on the mound,” Swaringen said. “I am from Wright City, so I didn’t know any of these guys coming in to the season. To make friends with them all over the season was awesome.”Next season, the Post 122 Freshmen hope to add even more members to its roster and make its third straight district playoff appearance.“Big strides were made this year,” Sherman said. “We are all invested in this program. Our Senior Legion program is having tons of success and that motivation to win exists throughout the whole program. We want to recruit more kids to play and keep building upward.”

The Freshman Legion baseball team for Warrenton made a second straight appearance in the Ninth District Tournament. Several members will return next season for a program that looks to keep taking strides in the right direction.

Patrick MacCoon photo.