"I have to hit the ball when it counts," said the starting second baseman. That was the message for Carlyle and his teammates following Post 122's 8-1 setback to Central at C&H Park in St. Peters. Dropping its third straight, Warrenton couldn't get its offense going in a Ninth District contest that started an hour late because of an extra-inning affair in an earlier game and couldn't be contained by the stroke of midnight. Maybe blame the plate woes on the late hour. Despite banging out nine hits and having several well-hit balls caught in the outfield, Post 122 could never add to its lone run scored in the second inning. Warrenton stranded 11 base runners overall and was just 2 for 13 with runners in scoring position. "They had the ball bounce their way and we couldn't get any luck," said Darren Carlyle who was joined by teammates Matt Duren and Nick Mack with two hits apiece. Carlyle scored Post 122's only run when he singled with one out and moved to third following a walk and fielder's choice. Zach Sanders, batting in the No. 9 slot, then followed with a single to right field off winning pitcher Tyler Beamer. Take away the failure to capitalize at the plate, Manager Jerry Carlyle has liked what he's seen from his squad less than three weeks into the season. "It's timely hitting we're not getting," he said. "Like I told the guys, we were hitting the ball. All around, they are playing pretty good. We're just not getting the ball bouncing our way." Other than the early run, Central's Beamer was on top of his game. The righty followed with seven scoreless innings to earn the win. He finished with 10 strikeouts and one walk. Lefty reliever Eric Rader came on in the ninth and retired all three batters he faced. Central did nearly all of its damage in the fourth inning when it chased Warrenton starter Adam Nickelson. A high pitch count caught up to the right-hander, who opened the game with three scoreless innings. But it all unraveled as four of Nickelson's six walks came in the frame to help Central scratch across five. Nickelson, who allowed four hits and had four strikeouts, exited after facing eight batters in the inning and trailing 4-1. He had thrown 99 pitches. "It was time for him to get out," Jerry Carlyle said about Nickelson. "He did a pretty decent job." Another run came around to score before reliever Dalton Koch recorded the final out. Central later added three more runs, one earned, off Koch in the seventh. In his 4 1/3 inning outing, Koch gave up seven hits, while striking out three and walking one. Though Post 122 sits three games under .500, the squad is optimistic for a successful summer. It will also help erase last season's disappointing nine-win campaign. "Last summer was tough," Darren Carlyle said. "But we got a lot better team. I think we will be all right." Warrenton plays at Washington this Friday. Post 122 is back home Saturday against Elsberry and hosts St. Peters on Sunday.