The Warrenton Post 122 Seniors led Elsberry Post 226, 3-1, after six innings in the second round of District Nine Tournament play on Friday night in Elsberry.

Then the fly ball happened.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, a hit from Elsberry’s Hunter Kline sailed high in the no-man’s land of shallow right field. Unfortunately for Warrenton, no fielders could spot it and it dropped for an error with Kline reaching second base.

Kline later scored, and Elsberry pushed across four more runs in the inning in route to a 7-3 win.

Post 122 Manager Scott Butler said the team couldn’t recover from the momentum shift after that play.

“The pop fly that no one could apparently see changed the complexion of the game,” Butler said. “It’s just one of those bad breaks that didn’t go our way. We just kind of imploded.”

In that seventh inning, Elsberry scored five runs on four hits, including two RBI doubles by Jacob Stoll and Kellen McCann. 

Elsberry added an insurance run in the eighth inning and a threat in the top of the ninth for Warrenton was for naught. Warrenton’s Charlie Gerard drew a lead-off walk to start the inning and Hunter Russell singled, but was caught attempting to steal second.

Elsberry’s Jordan Richards got a strike out and fly out to end the game.

“Obviously I think we should have this game,” Butler said. “In playoff baseball, you’ve got to do the little things right and Elsberry is a good team. They are a two-seed for a reason. They’ve only lost to Washington. It’s just one of those things. It’s just tough to swallow.”

Elsberry struck first in the fourth inning when Austin Bargen drew the walk to start the inning and eventually reached third base after a sacrifice bunt and a Warrenton fielding error. Cole Dickherber got caught in a pickoff play between first and second base just long enough for Bargen to score to put Elsberry up 1-0.

Post 226 didn’t keep that lead long. In the top of the sixth inning, Tyler Brittain drew a lead-off walk and stole second to put himself in scoring position. Troy Muse ripped a pitch up the middle for an RBI base-hit to score Brittain. 

But Warrenton wasn’t done. 

James Dotson’s fly ball to left field left the park, bringing himself and Muse home to put Warrenton up 3-1.

Butler said the top of the order for his team has been stellar all season long and with the loss his team and the offense must show up to play.

“It’s not like we get a day to think about this one,” Butler said. “I think that’s probably a good thing. There’s no sulking about this loss. That’s the good thing about baseball – in football you suffer a tough loss and you have a week until you play again but in baseball you have to get right back after it.”

Dotson led the way for Warrenton offensively with two hits and two RBIs in the game. Brittain, Austin Nicolas, Muse, Russell and Alex Vogt also had hits in the game.

Nicolas tossed six innings of baseball for Post 122, allowing five hits and two earned runs. He struck out eight. Chris Garrett took the loss, however, allowing two hits and three runs in the seventh inning. Chris Vogt allowed two hits and a run in two innings of work. He struck out four and walked two for Warrenton. 

Elsberry’s Colby Martin allowed four hits and struck out five in six innings of work. Brenon Crenshaw got the win in relief for Elsberry, allowing one hit and striking out three.