For the South Legion team, Saturday’s Ninth District All-Star Game was more about having fun than being competitive.The Washington Post 218 manager, whose team made up the majority of the roster, was still in awe of the state championship it had won the previous Sunday.“I think our feet still haven’t touched the ground after that one,” said Scott Forrester. “It was so exciting and something we’ll never forget.”On Saturday, it was the North team escaping with a 9-2 win.Warrenton had three players participating, including infielders Brendan Hazel and Chris Garrett.“I thought they did an outstanding job of representing the Post 122 program,” said Warrenton Coach Ken Dildine.Washington had 11 representatives, including five first-team picks. New Haven and Wentzville also took part.“We all came out with the notion to have a good time,” said Forrester. “We weren’t really too serious about it. We just wanted to make sure we got everybody in to play.”Washington pitcher Zach Finley opened the first two innings on the mound, stifling the North’s hitters.“Zach Finley showed that he was on again today in those first two innings,” said Forrester. “I think if we could have thrown him all night it would have probably been a different outcome, but with seven other pitchers sitting on the bench, we couldn’t do that.”Garrett and Hazel teamed up for a double play to close out the inning.“That was great seeing them record that play and work together,” said Dildine.The tables turned in the top of the third, when New Haven’s Andrew Bodnik replaced Finley. North moved ahead 1-0, ending the inning with bases loaded.The South countered in the bottom of the inning, as Nathan Breckenkamp took advantage of a walk, after being driven in by Warrenton’s Brendan Hazel.Warrenton’s Dalton Owenby took the mound in the fourth inning, allowing just one batter on base.“Dalton did a really good job of coming in and shutting them down,” said Dildine.It wasn’t until the fifth that the South found a rhythm at the plate, unloading four runs against Wentzville pitcher Dawson Callahan.“With throwing a different pitcher every inning, it’s hard to get the timing down,” said Forrester.The North moved ahead 6-1 in the seventh, with Washington’s Eli Marquart on the mound.The South’s only other run came in the bottom of that frame, with Breckencamp getting on base by a walk and eventually scoring as the result of a miscommunication at second base.The South tacked on three more runs in the ninth, with Post 218’s Jacob Unnerstall closing out the contest.Hit were scarce for the South, who got a double from Washington’s Tommy Ruether in the second inning and a single from Matt Piontek in the fourth.“Whenever you get a group of boys who haven’t played together it takes them a while to gel,” said Forrester. “The north did a little better at it than we did today.”Garrett came up empty at the plate, uncharacteristic as compared to his stellar hitting during the regular season.“He didn’t have the best day batting, but Chris really made up for it with his play in the field,” finished Dildine.

Warrenton Post 122 Freshman Legion player Brendan Hazel throws to first base while recording a double play with the help of teammate Chris Garrett.

Derrick Forsythe photo.