WASHINGTON COUNTY DEFEAT COLUMBUS IN LITTLE LEAGUE ALL STARS JUNIOR BASEBALL TOURNAMENT

On Tuesday, the Washington County Little League All-Stars traveled to Schulenburg for Game 1 of the Junior Baseball Tournament, where they edged out the Columbus All-Stars in a tense 2-1 victory marked by stellar pitching on both sides.

Columbus starter Greg Fitzgerald was dominant, striking out 11 batters before exiting with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. Washington County countered with a four-pitcher rotation—Mack Ehlert, Hudson Frank, Grant Asmussen, and Will Hefferly—who combined for 10 strikeouts in a true team effort on the mound.

Columbus struck first in the top of the second inning when Kash Wilbert stole second and third, then scored on a Lane Foster RBI. Washington County responded in the bottom half, tying the game on an error that brought home Ehlert, and taking the lead with a Wes Warschak RBI single that scored Austin Smith.

Despite limited offense, Washington County’s defense came through in key moments, escaping two bases-loaded jams without allowing a run. That clutch pitching ultimately proved to be the difference, securing a hard-fought one-run win to open the tournament.