INDUSTRY – Washington County’s 9-year-old all-stars are adapting to seeing live pitches instead of coaches’ pitches in competitive play.

The county all-stars are making the transition well, as shown by a great start to pool play in their Texas East District 13 tournament.

Washington County won its first three games of the Texas East District 13 tournament, displaying great pitching and plate discipline throughout the tournament.

Its best game came on Saturday. Washington County needed just three innings to defeat Columbus 15-0 in a near-perfect performance.

The county all-stars drew 10 walks against Columbus, headlined by three walks drawn by Grady Curtis. Seven other all-stars drew one walk each.

Their coach, Chris Curtis, said plate discipline has been a key point of coaching throughout the Little League season.

“I did not coach all of them, but I know three or four on my team and that is emphasized a lot,” he said.

Good plate discipline led to five runs in all three innings for the county all-stars. Base hits from Django Moffit, Case Knesek and Holden Hejl all led to runs in the first inning.

Tanner Schroeder provided the big hit in the second with a bases-clearing triple that gave the county all-stars their second five-run frame. A bases-loaded walk from Grady Curtis and a catcher’s interference call with the bases loaded provided the rest of the second-inning runs.

A two-run single from Graham Wilke enacted the five-run maximum in the third after a five-walk inning. Walks from Hejl and Curtis directly scored runs with the bases loaded.

Knesek showcased great pitching in two innings of work. He struck out three batters and allowed no hits and walks in a 29-pitch day.

“Case filled up the zone,” Curtis said. “He threw a lot of strikes, worked ahead, kept our team in the game. You can not ask for better than that at nine years old.”

Reese Haevischer pitched the third inning and allowed two walks, but earned a strikeout with no hits allowed to get a scoreless frame.

Saturday’s win came off the heels of an 18-2 win over Bellville on Friday to start the tournament. Washington County scored five runs in each of the first three innings and entered the bottom of the third leading 15-0.

Bellville scored two in the bottom of the third, making a fourth inning necessary. An RBI single from Moffit and a two-RBI base hit from Preston Hodde ended proceedings in the fourth.

The county all-stars drew nine walks Friday with Hodde, Knesek and Wilke drawing two walks each.

Washington County also had a great hitting evening with 12 hits. Hejl went 2 for 2 with two RBI and scoring twice. Schroeder and Moffit each went 2 for 3 with two RBI.

Hejl earned five strikeouts and allowed just one walk to start the tournament. He needed just 26 pitches to complete two clean innings of work.

The county all-stars continued play Sunday and earned a 15-1 win over La Grange to complete a perfect weekend.

Washington County scored five runs in all three of its offensive innings, tallying 10 hits and drawing 10 walks. Knesek went 3 for 3 with three walks and an RBI.

Hejl earned four RBI with three runs driven in an inside-the-park home run in the first. He also brought a run home on one of his two walks.

Wilke earned three RBI on Sunday, starting with a two-RBI single into left field that enacted the five-run maximum in the first. He also drove a run in on a fielder’s choice play.

Curtis and Hodde split Sunday’s pitching duties, each throwing two innings. Curtis earned five strikeouts over the first two innings with just one walk, hit and unearned run allowed. Hodde finished the game with two innings of no-hit work. He earned three strikeouts.

Washington County used six different pitchers in the first three days of the district tournament, acting upon its exceptional pitching depth. Curtis said all 12 players can throw on the mound.

“The hardest thing for me is trying to get them all their action,” he said, citing how shorter games limit the number of pitchers he can use. “We will get them all in there, but they are doing great.”

Curtis expressed confidence in his boys after a great start to the district tournament with an eye on winning the tournament and bringing a championship banner home.

“These guys are ready and they want to (win),” he said.

Washington County concluded pool play Monday with a matchup against Sealy. Games in the tournament’s double elimination bracket begin Friday. The top seed plays its first bracket game on Saturday.