Like clockwork, it happened again.Late-game collapses have become routine for the Warrenton Post 122 Senior Legion team, and Sunday’s encounter with Washington was no different.Warrenton had the perennial power within its reach heading into the final three innings of an eventual 11-2 defeat.“That eighth inning always seems to be our Achilles’ heel,” lamented Coach Kevin Shough. “We’ve got to work through it somehow and find a way to get it done.”Following a slow start by its visitors, Post 122 cut the gap to 3-2 in the sixth.Washington had left bases loaded in the first and stranded six more runners by the sixth thanks to alert playmaking by Warrenton.“We were paying attention to what’s going on and making good throws in the process,” said Shough. “It’s a momentum-builder that keeps us in the game.”His team’s effort paid off when it strung together a pair of runs in the sixth to put the pressure on Post 218.“They didn’t expect us to score at all I’m sure,” said Shough. “Let alone, actually manufacture runs.”Lead-off batter Hunter Russell walked, and Brandon Moeller followed with a single. An error placed Donovan Mozee on base, subsequently scoring Russell.Arik Rader closed out the inning with an RBI double.“We didn’t leave everybody stranded out there,” said Shough. “We got the job done in one inning.”Suddenly, Warrenton had a grip on the momentum, but it would be short-lived.“Once we got it back to within 3-2, their coach came down on them,” said Shough. “The pressure was on them.”Rader took to the mound, where he struggled to keep Post 218’s batter off base. Two walks and an error set the table for a three-run rally by Washington.Still, Post 122 only trailed 6-2 and had three innings to counter.“We didn’t play horrible, but we gave up some base hits and walks that scored runs,” said Shough.But a three-up, three-down appearance by Warrenton was followed by a five-run eighth inning by Post 218 that put the game out of reach and nearly ended it early.Post 122 had nothing left in the tank, coming up empty as it has on numerous occasions during a 1-11 season.“I don’t feel like we hit the ball as well as we should have today,” said Shough. “We put a few more balls in play, and we score some more runs.”Complicating matters for Warrenton was the fact Shough didn’t have a full roster, with just eight AAA players available. Several AA players stayed after their game to fill in gaps for the seniors.“Credit to those younger guys for standing in there and taking their cuts against a higher caliber pitcher than they’re used to,” said Shough.Bradley Smith and Justin Rice split time in the infield, while Matt Dildine played outfield to help pad the roster.MOELLER CONNECTSDerrick Forsythe photo.