One after another, Coach Ken Dildine watched his Post 122 Junior Legion players strike out.It was only a matter of time until host Daniel Boone pounced on an opportunity to take control of the game at C&H Park.The home team tied the contest in the bottom of the seventh, forcing extra innings before ultimately escaping with a 3-2 victory.“When you strike out 14 times, have eight errors and miss eight to 10 signals on the base paths or at home plate, you’re not going to win the ballgame,” lamented Dildine, who says his team is so close to winning, yet so far from where it should be in terms of fundamentals.Pleased with the effort by his pitching staff and confident in a sharp outfield, Dildine says the infield has to shore up its efforts.“Right now we’re back up in the air concerning the infield again,” said Dildine.But the greatest concern on Thursday was at the plate, where Warrenton managed just three hits, two of those coming from James Dotson.“A lot of our problem was that kids weren’t seeing our signals,” said Dildine.Dotson led off the first inning with a single, eventually scoring along with Brandon Purkaple who reached base on an error.“These kids are talented and should be able to hit these guys,” said Dildine. “We haven’t had a lot of time to practice and work on fundamentals. These things have to be addressed during the game.”Post 122 went three-up, three-down in the second inning, before stranding two runners on durig the third. Matt Dildine connected on a single in that stretch, and it would be the last Warrenton got on the base paths for the next five innings.Still, Post 122’s pitchers kept it in contention, with Purkaple starting on the mound.“Our pitchers threw the ball really well,” said Dildine. “They were in the zone and where they had to be.”Purkaple gave way to Shane Emge in relief during the sixth inning.“Purkaple pitched six solid innings,” said Dildine. “Emge was lights out. We would have left him in, but his back was bothering him.”Daniel Boone managed to load the bases with no outs,putting the pressure on Dotson, who was the closer.Forcing the game into the 10th inning, the host team left Warrenton reeling after another close defeat.“We have to be able to close out the games, and right now we’re not,” said Dildine.

Post 122 infielder Chris Garrett throws to first base.

Derrick Forsythe Photo.