Overcoming the weather and wet field conditions, the Washington Post 218 Juniors finally got the chance to open Ninth District Tournament play Friday at Rotary Recreational Complex - Ronsick Field.

Taking on eighth-seeded Warrenton Post 122, Washington broke through in the fourth inning on the way to a 10-0 victory.

Post 218 (20-2) scored five times in the fourth and added a run in the fifth and four in the sixth to end the game early, 10-0.

“Offensively, I thought our guys did a good job of finding their bats,” Post 218 Manager Kent Getsee said. “Anytime you face another team’s ace, you expect to struggle in the early going, but that coupled with the extended layoff, complicated things. We really had to find a way to put some pressure on and the guys took some great at-bats.”

Zach Stahlman got the start for Post 218 and earned the win, going five innings while allowing five hits. He struck out five.

“Once again it was the Zach Stahlman show and I don’t get tired of watching re-runs,” Getsee said. “Zach came out and did what we knew and hoped he would do and that is keep the other team off the board. We knew after a nine-day layoff we would need a couple of innings to get our timing back. Zach held Warrenton in check and gave us the time we needed to get our hitting going.”

Josh Hendrickson pitched the sixth, walking one batter, to seal the victory.

“Josh Hendrickson came in to throw the sixth inning and did a great job,” Getsee said. “That saved an inning for Zach and got his bullpen work in to keep him ready for the rest of the weekend.”

While the other first-round games were completed Thursday, Washington had to delay its opener in the event due to wet field conditions at Ronsick Field. While the remainder of this tournament will be played away from Washington, it’s not the final time Post 218 will play at home. Washington will host the state tournament July 20-24.

Post 218 only managed six hits against Warrenton, but also took advantage of eight walks and a hit batter.

All of Washington’s hits were singles and nobody had more than one. Logan Gratza, Justin Heggemann, Quinton Poepsel, Hunter Mehler, Jake Jinkerson and Eli Marquart each had one hit.

Teddy Meyer walked three times. Tommy Ruether, Gratza, Justin Heggemann, Mehler and Jake Jinkerson walked. Ben Maune was hit by a pitch.

Meyer crossed the plate three times while Mehler scored twice. Ruether, Gratza, Heggemann, Poepsel and Marquart scored one run apiece.

Jinkerson drove in four runs. Gratza had two RBIs. Poepsel added one RBI.

Jinkerson sacrificed twice and Marquart added one sacrifice.

Meyer stole two bases. Chris Broeder, Marquart and Mehler each stole one base.

“Right from the start Tommy Ruether had a quality six- or seven-pitch at-bat and the guys just worked hard to find it from there,” Getsee said. “We finally jumped on them in the fifth after Quinton Poepsel broke open a no-hitter to left and then we played some small ball and forced some errors giving us the breathing room we needed. Jake Jinkerson had two suicide squeeze bunts he executed to perfection on his way to a four RBI night and Eli Marquart had another sacrifice as well. We’ve talked about doing whatever is necessary to win games and the guys were selfless last night and got the job done.”

Getsee continued.

“Logan Gratza continues to stroke the ball collecting two RBIs last night as well,” Getsee said. “Up and down the lineup, we had contributions and that is what we need to be successful in the long run.”

Dalton Owenby started and took the loss, lasting 3.2 innings. He allowed five runs (three earned) on four hits and four walks. He struck out two.

Chris Vogt pitched one inning, allowing a run on a hit, a walk and a hit batter. He struck out one.

Alex Vogt finished out the game, pitching the final two-thirds of an inning. 

Warrenton had five hits. Chris Vogt doubled. Brendan Hazel, Alex Vogt, Mitch Burnette and Brandon Longacre singled.

Alex Vogt drew the only walk. Owenby sacrificed.