After being shut out by Missouri American Legion District Nine foe Elsberry on Thursday, the Warrenton VFW Post 2180 Freshman team responded in a big way, grabbing a 13-5 victory on Saturday against St. Charles Post 312.

The win also put the team back over .500 on the season at 7-5. 

On Saturday, it was Post 312 that jumped out to the early lead, however. Bryce Wiest opened the bottom of the first inning with a base hit down the first base line and walks to Drew Cleveland and Ryan Siebels loaded the bases for Kolten Hartmann, who smacked a single up the gut to score a pair of runs. 

Post 2180 responded in the top of the second inning, scoring a run to put a dent in the lead, 2-1. Tyler Conoyer drew a lead-off walk to start things off for Warrenton. Jack Russell’s ground-out put Conoyer at second base and a pair of passed balls plated the first run of the game for Warrenton.

Ryan McNee drew a one-out walk to put Warrenton in business in the third inning. Dakota Ball’s grounder in the infield was mishandled, allowing McNee to advance to second. A single for William Nordstrom loaded the bases for Russell, who responded with a base knock to left center to score McNee and tie the score at 2-2.  

After a bit of a difficult first inning for Warrenton pitcher Ball, he settled in nicely after, allowing just three hits after the first inning in 4 2/3 innings of work. He struck out 10 and walked four.

The wheels fell off for Post 312 defensively in the top of the fourth inning and Warrenton took full advantage, scoring six runs and blowing the game wide open.  Hayden Burns and Manny Raygoza each drew walks, and McNee moved the pair over to second and third on a sacrifice bunt. A walk to Ball loaded the bases for Nordstrom, who also walked and got the RBI in scoring Burns to take a 3-2 lead. 

Errors on two consecutive ground balls off the bats of Conoyer and Russell scored Raygoza and Nordstrom for a 5-2 Warrenton advantage. A failed fielder’s choice put out on a ground ball by Isaac Hartman scored McNee for another run. Before all was said and done, Warrenton pushed across six runs in the inning for the 8-2 lead.

After Post 312 scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, Warrenton pushed across three more runs in the fifth inning. This time it used a more traditional approach at the plate. McNee doubled down the third base line and after Ball and Nordstrom drew a pair of walks to load the bases, Russell roped a double to right for a three-RBI double to put Warrenton up 11-4. Russell had a monster day at the plate for Warrenton with four hits and six RBIs.

Warrenton wasn’t finished with its offensive onslaught – scoring two more runs in the seventh inning. Russell and Nordstrom singled and Logan Oakley’s ground out scored Russell. 

McNee finished the game on the mound for Warrenton, allowing one run on one hit, walking one and striking out two in 2 1/3 innings of work.