Patch Warriors Debut in Affton Athletic Assoc. Top Little League Division

Affton-Shrewsbury Patch and Kirkwood-Webster Groves Patch is sponsoring the Webster Warriors little league team this year as they compete for the first time in the Affton Athletic Assocation's top house little league division.

The Warriors suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Fenton/Sunset Hills Scorpions last week but look to bounce back in the Affton Athletic Association’s B1 division.

Three pitchers (John Porthouse, Josh Kazlauskas and Angelo La Mantia) combined for eight strikeouts and four earned runs in five innings, only to be undone by several costly errors in the middle innings. The final score was 11-7, with seven of the Scorpions runs unearned.

On a brighter note, the Louisville Slugger “Omaha” bats, courtesy of Patch’s sponsorship, along with hours in the batting cages, yielded seven runs on strong hitting up and down the lineup.

Clutch hitting by Cullin McCartie and Grant Lehmann, along with an in-the-park home run by Angelo La Mantia kept the Warriors close, but they were unable to close the gap in the fifth inning.

The Patch Warriors also delivered solid pitching. Porthouse struck out four in two innings and allowed one earned run. Kazlauskas struck out one and allowed one earned run. Angelo La Mantia struck out two in one shutout inning.

Other standout players included Jacob Finkel, Henry Bante and Cullin McCartie, who all had multiple steals. In addition, Lehmann had three putouts from second base.

In the Warrior’s first year in the Affton Athletic Association's top house little league, the team’s record went to 1-5.

“All of the losses have been close, and due to fielding and pitching errors,” head coach David Porthouse said. “Our focus is on dropped third strikes, outfield play and aggressive batting.”

The Patch Warriors look to regroup as they take on the Columbia, IL, Panthers at 6 p.m. June 16 on Affton Athletic Field 5.