Renegades set to do battle
with Henke, Ash, local All-Stars

The Jefferson City Renegades will turn their attentions toward Team Missouri --- a collection of local All-Stars --- in what should be an entertaining affair at 3 p.m. on July 4th at Vivion Field.

July 3, 2018

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. --- The Washington Generals are coming to town.

Well, actually, these guys have been here all along.

A collection of local baseball talent --- ranging up to 50 years old --- will try their luck against the Jefferson City Renegades in The Renegades vs. Team Missouri exhibition game at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Vivion Field.

Call this an early fireworks show ... maybe.

If you're not sure who the Washington Generals are, they were fodder for the Harlem Globetrotters for decades.

Sacrificial lambs in basketball sneakers.

The Generals' last win against the Globetrotters came in 1971, which snapped their 2,495-game losing streak.

That's not a typo ---2,495.

And you thought the Chicago Cubs had a bad losing streak. After that game, which the Generals won 100-99, a Washington player said of the fans:

"They looked at us like we killed Santa Claus."

Steve Dullard, 33, Renegades president who will serve as manager of Team Missouri, may see some playing time. Renegades board member Denny Atwell will also be in the uniform --- at age 50.

On the back of the shirts of Team Missouri, which is sponsored by Shirtsmith, are the words:

#theotherguys

But Dullard is not about to throw in the towel.

"We're going to give these guys a run for their money," he said. "I think it's going to be pretty competitive."

The Renegades roster is made up of current college players, while the All-Stars do have plenty of high school, college and even professional baseball experience on their side.

Travis Henke, a Blair Oaks All-Stater, spent five years in the Washington Nationals minor league system and will get the start.

"Henke is going to pitch," Dullard said, "so we'll be all right. And we have several other pitchers."

This will actually be Henke's second start against the Renegades the last four weeks, as he served as a fill-in for a visiting team in a non-league game in early June. Henke, who will turn 30 later this month, allowed four runs on eight hits in four innings.

"I felt really good during the (game)," Henke said. "It was about three days afterwards I woke up and could barely walk."

Another hurler in the mix is Brian Ash, former head coach of the Jefferson City Jays who's now at Southern Boone.

"I think it's going to be a pretty good show, honestly," Ash said. "Our guys have all been there, done that, so we're going to use our savviness, the mental approach to it. Plus, I think our out-of-shapeness is going to fool them a little bit.

"If we can field the ball and make the routine plays, it might be a competitive game. Hopefully, it's not 10-0 after the first or second inning."

Ash, 42, still pitches in the Show-Me Games every year. 

"I'm hoping they don't need my services," Ash said,"but if so, I've got one inning for them. And that's it."

The Renegades --- who were 13-11 entering play Tuesday night in Clarinda, Iowa. --- will have already played 25 games this summer against solid competition in the MINK League.

The All-Stars? No games --- and the same number of practices.

"(Renegades manager) Mike (DeMilia) won't use any of their main pitchers," Dullard said, "but he'll still play his regular guys.

"It should be a lot of fun. I told DeMilia to make sure the concession stand is stocked with plenty of cold beer, because there should be a good crowd on hand."

For Team Missouri, it's not all about winning. It's more about not getting hurt.

"For me, personally, that's it," Ash said. "But I think the competitiveness is going to come out in all of us, especially if the game's close, early on. That's when you start feeling your oats, a little bit."

Who knows? It might be 1971 all over again.

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