In two weeks, the Washington Hatchets will compete in one of the toughest baseball sectionals in the state of Indiana at Jasper’s Ruxer Field, a tourney which features perennial Class 3A powers Jasper and Vincennes Lincoln.

Monday at the Gwaltney Sports Complex the Hatchets faced a team which should prepare them very well for that level of competition in Class 2A No. 6 North Posey. And though the Hatchets fell to the Vikings 6-3, coach Steve Brothers was not at all disappointed with the defeat.

“I was very pleased with the way we played tonight, we came ready to play against a quality ballclub. They’re probably one of the best teams on our schedule,” said Brothers. “I think we’re playing some pretty good baseball right now.”

The game featured a fine pitching duel between Cody Lee of Washington (10-9) and Adam Schroeder for North Posey (18-4). Lee allowed just eight hits and walked only one in a complete game performance. But the Vikings reached Lee for single runs in the first, fourth, and in the fifth on a solo home run by Schroeder. North Posey broke the game open with a three run sixth, thought the Vikings needed the help of a hit batter and a two out Hatchet error to plate three runs.

“It was 3-2 in the sixth inning, and we just about got out of the inning and we didn’t make it,” said Brothers. “Then we got flustered, and allowed two or three more runs. We just had a bad inning.”

Washington collected eight hits off Schroeder and only struck out five times as a team. But Schroeder, who also went the distance, did a good job of getting the Hatchets to hit the ball on the ground (only two of Washington’s 21 outs went beyond the infield) and issued just one free pass.

Ethan Hunsinger doubled then later scored on a wild pitch in the fifth for WHS, then reached on a one out error in the seventh and eventually came around to score on a single by Logan Hawthorne.

Washington’s other run came in the fourth when Cody Osmon led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice, stole third, and scored on a wild pitch.

Hunsinger, who also singled in the third, led the Hatchets with two hits along with Hawthorne. Alex Portee, Lee, and Tyler Williams also singled for WHS.