Throughout the 2004 season, the Oakville American Legion junior varsity baseball team has run itself like a well-oiled machine.

The Oakville JV players have racked up a record of 26-9 overall with a mark of 14-4 in District 10 play.

The impressive season propelled the team to a District 10 South Division championship.

Yet like all machines, there’s always going to be a breakdown of some sort.

Oakville’s just came at the wrong time of the season.

After defeating Chesterfield 11-1 Thursday, July 15, in the District 10 tournament, the Oakville JV players dropped a disappointing 15-11 decision to Florissant.

Then on Saturday, July 17, Oakville experienced a heartbreaking 5-2 defeat to Brentwood.

“We actually hit the ball well against Brentwood,” head coach Matt Boyer told the Call.

“We just hit the ball right at them and couldn’t find a hole to save our life.”

Oakville starting pitcher Clayton Camp threw a solid six innings, in which he gave up four runs on eight hits with two walks.

“Clayton didn’t have his best stuff, but I though that he pitched good enough to win,” Boyer said.

“He really got tough and kept us in the ball game.”

Center fielder Louie Haseltine had the strongest day at the plate with a 2-2 performance with one sacrifice fly.

Haseltine finished the 2004 season with a stout .464 batting average.

Haseltine drove in 40 runs and had a team-leading five home runs.

“Louie’s been one of our top hitters and RBI guys all season,” Boyer said.

“When he goes up to the plate, you know the ball is going to be hit hard.”

Six of Oakville’s players will get to enjoy the fruits of the junior varisty team’s success this season.

They will participate in the District 10 Junior Varsity All-Star game Sunday, July 25, at the Ballwin Athletic Association fields in Ballwin.

Pitchers Tim Kappel and Derick Hibdon, along with second baseman Cody Terry, shortstop Brian Roustio, center fielder Adam Boyer and Haseltine all will represent the Oakville American Legion in the exhibition game.

“Our guys really do play as a team,” Boyer explained.

“They don’t think about their individual stats and they don’t care who drove in the winning run. They’re just concerned that the team did well and in the end, it shows.”

The District 10 All-Star game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start.