The Jefferson City Post 5 Junior Legion baseball team began its 2016 season by winning the Washington Post 218 Memorial Weekend Tournament.
Post 5 won both pool play games in the seven-team tournament, starting with a 10-0 win against Eureka in five innings Saturday. Skyler Dickneite pitched a shutout, allowing just one hit and finished with four strikeouts.
In its second pool play game Sunday, Post 5 defeated Union 15-5. Josef Keilholz pitched the first four innings, striking out six batters while not allowing a hit. Gage Bax finished pitching the game in relief.
By posting a 2-0 record in pool play, Post 5 received the Pool B No. 1 seed in the four-team, single-elimination bracket play which took place Monday.
In the semifinal game, Post 5 won its third straight game with a 10-0 victory against Highland (Ill.), the runner-up team in Pool A.
Austin Fennewald was the winning pitcher. He allowed two hits and struck out four in six innings.
Post 5 faced Washington, the No. 1 seed from Pool A, in the championship game. Washington beat Union 7-2 in the other semifinal game.
Post 5 edged Washington 1-0 in the title game to start the season with a 4-0 record. Jordan Herzing had the only RBI of the game. Jonathan Backes pitched a shutout for Post 5, surrending just two hits. He also recorded five strikeouts.
The Post 5 Junior Legion team will return to action when it hosts a four-team round robin tournament, which begins Friday at American Legion Post 5 Sports Complex.