Last weekend was not a perfect one for Washington County’s Minor Division baseball all-stars. However, they continue to survive and advance through the Texas East District 13 tournament.

Washington County went 2-1 over the weekend and faced a semifinal matchup with Columbus on Monday to decide who meets Grimes County for the district title.

Sunday’s matchup in Brenham between Washington County and Bellville was a war of attrition on the field. Aiming for the fewest mistakes in addition for the most runs was a major part of the plan for victory.

Washington County won both battles in walk-off fashion, defeating Bellville 4-3 to advance to the loser’s bracket semifinals.

The county all-stars earned back-to-back walks from Connor Marek and Mason Ehlert, respectively, to open the sixth.

Aydn Tiemann then laid out a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. Though he showed frustration by not beating out a close play at first, coach David Doelitsch said his bunt could not have been any more timely for Washington County.

“Everybody has a role on this team and on something like that, moving the runners over, that is huge,” he said. “That is the play of the game right there. It does not look good in the stat sheet, but it shows up on the field and helps us get it over here.”

Thomas Asmussen drew a walk to load the bases for Jake Church, who already earned two walks Sunday.

Church lined out to third base to end runners on second and first back to their bases. However, Bellville made an errant throw to first while trying to check on Asmussen.

Bellville’s third error of the game, breaking a 2-2 deadlock in the error column, allowed Marek to score from third and win the game for Washington County.

The all-stars’ coaching staff applauded its team’s bounce back ability in its postgame huddle.

“We are making mistakes, but we are not letting it affect us,” Doelitsch said. “We are coming back the next inning and we are getting it back. That is just what you got to do at this age. You make a mistake, just keep your head up and make the next play.”

Washington County responded from two different deficits to earn a comeback win. The county all-stars gave up the opening run in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly after an error earlier in the inning.

Cam Wheaton’s hustle around the bases got that run back in the bottom half. A throw from home plate to first base to check on Wheaton went all the way to right field, allowing Wheaton to hustle from first to home to tie the game at 1-1.

Bellville put a string of two, two-out RBI singles together in the third to take a 3-1 lead. Aiden Mathis got one run back in the bottom half with a base hit into left field, driving in Wheaton for his second run of the game.

Asmussen delivered the tying run in the fourth on an RBI single that rolled slowly down the third base line.

Great pitching down the stretch from Luke Lechler put the county all-stars in position for their comeback. He pitched the final 3 2/3 innings with no runs, one walk and two hits allowed. Though he struck out just one batter, his effectiveness in inducing outs and throwing strikes pleased his coaches.

“When we need somebody to come in and throw strikes, we turn to Luke because he is there (and) he is reliable,” Doelitsch said. “He had his off speed stuff working a lot today, kind of kept them off balance and that was huge for us.”

Sunday’s win gave Washington County its semifinal place. The winner of the WC-Columbus semifinal needs two wins against Grimes County to claim the district title.

Friday

Grimes County 4,

Washington County 2

Washington County was knocked out of the winner’s bracket and into the bottom half of the double-elimination tournament Friday night after a close 4-2 loss to Grimes County.

Grimes County immediately set the tempo with two runs in the top of the first. Washington County put runners on in its half of the first thanks to two walks. However, two fly outs left both runners in scoring position.

After a relatively uneventful second inning, Grimes County looked to add on in the third after a one-out walk and single. Washington County pitcher Connor Marek got out of the jam with a groundout and a strikeout.

His teammates backed him up in the bottom half. Bowen Riley scored after an errant throw from Grimes County in its effort to check Blayne Baker on second base.

Cam Wheaton then executed a sacrifice fly situation perfectly with a fly ball to center field. He brought Baker home to tie the game at 2-2.

Aiden Mathis replaced Marek in the fourth inning and pitched a clean inning to begin his relief outing.

Washington County picked up a double from Mason Ehlert in its half of the fourth. However, a great defensive play on a diving catch in center field ended the frame.

Grimes County got to Mathis in the fifth frame. A double to center field and a base hit set the tone early. Grimes County put down a bunt to Mathis afterward. Washington County attempted to make the play at home to keep a run off the board, but catcher Jake Church could not secure the ball to complete the play.

A passed ball later in the inning extended the Grimes County advantage to 4-2.

Opportunity lurked for Washington County in the bottom of the fifth after base hits from Lechler and Riley. Momentum stalled after Riley reached base, though, as Grimes County caught Lechler trying to advance to third for the second out.

Washington County coach David Doelitsch said situational baserunning is an area his team worked to improve on following Friday’s game, among other details.

A walk from Jake Doelitsch could not spark a two-out rally as a groundout to shortstop ended the frame. Washington County went down in order in the sixth to end the game.

Coach Doelitsch praised both of his pitchers for a well-fought game on the mound. Marak and Mathis each struck out three batters in their three innings of work.

“We needed strike throwers against a team like this and they did exactly what they are supposed to do,” he said. “Just a few more plays and we would have been right there.”

Doelitsch consoled Mathis after the game, telling him that his pitching kept Washington County in the game late.

Saturday

Washington County 14,

La Grange 4

The county all-stars bounced back Saturday with a 14-4 win over La Grange.

Washington County defeated La Grange for a second time in this year’s district tournament thanks to consistent scoring with runs in every inning.

The county all-stars took a 3-0 lead after the first thanks to Wheaton scoring on a wild pitch, Mathis stealing home and a bases-loaded walk from Church.

Walker Ebert extended WC’s lead to 4-0 with an RBI single in the second. Baker also scored in the inning on a passed ball. Ehlert did the same in the third inning, partly making up for his team allowing two runs to La Grange in the top half of the inning.

After a clean inning of pitching from Baker in his first inning of a two-inning relief appearance, Washington County scored three in the fourth to take a 9-2 lead. Ehlert and Tiemann produced bases-loaded walks with Ebert scoring on a wild pitch.

After giving up two more runs in the top of the fifth, Washington County put the game away with a five-run bottom half to enforce the 10-run rule. Three runs came home on passed balls to add to RBI singles from Riley and Wheaton.

Coach Doelitsch said Saturday’s game followed the formula of his team’s other wins with good execution on the diamond along with his pitchers throwing strikes on the mound.