Warrenton’s annual baseball game with Wright City always feels just a bit different for the Warriors, who are the bigger school in the county rivalry. Warrenton players and coaches know the …
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Warrenton’s annual baseball game with Wright City always feels just a bit different for the Warriors, who are the bigger school in the county rivalry.
Warrenton players and coaches know the Wildcats will be as prepared and focused as any game on their schedule as they look for an upset.
“The kids have fun with that game, and you know you’re always going to get the best effort from Wright City when you play them,” Warrenton Head Coach Eric Burle said. “Any time they get a chance to beat Warrenton, they’re going to mark that on their calendar. And it goes that way for our kids, too.”
After going down 1-0 in the top of the first, the Warriors responded with three runs en route to a 7-3 win in the first round of the Orchard Farm Tournament Friday.
Warrior starter Dylan O’Neal tossed 3 1/3 innings while striking out five. He gave up three hits but didn’t surrender an earned run.
“We had to keep Dylan under a certain pitch count because of high school rules, but he pitched well for us,” Burle said. “It was important getting that early lead and scoring some runs late.”
Wright City tied the game at three in the sixth inning, but Warrenton responded again with four runs to put the game away.
Braden Lawson and Alex Vogt led the Warrior offense with two hits each.
Trent McGee went 1-for-3 with the team’s only extra-base hit, and Eli Ecton added an RBI in four at-bats.
“It’s kind of nerve-wracking as a coach because they’re the smaller school and it’s a county rival, so it’s like the Super Bowl for them getting the chance to knock us off,” Burle said. “And I’m sure there is a little anxiety on the kids’ level too. But their pitcher (Tristin Riley) is a solid pitcher, so I don’t want to take away anything that they did.”
WARRIORS CLINCH GAC NORTH TITLE TUESDAY: After both teams remained scoreless through six innings, the Warrenton offense came alive in the bottom of the seventh to beat St. Charles Tuesday, 1-0, giving the Warriors the outright GAC North championship.
After Dylan O’Neal hit the team’s first double of the game, he scored the winning run on a base-hit by Trent McGee in the seventh.
McGee finished 2-for-4 on the afternoon.
Eli Ecton pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up three hits and striking out 15.
District tournament brackets will be announced Sunday, and the Warriors finish the regular season Wednesday at Francis Howell North.
.STRIKE THREE — Garrison Hibbs strikes out a Wright City batter Friday during the annual clash of Warren County teams. Warrenton won, 7-3. Kory Carpenter photo.
