Staples World photo by Kelley Kossan Making the toss Shortstop Jordan Riewer fielded a ground ball and then fired it to first base to throw out a Perham runner in action from the first game of the May 12 double header with the Yellowjackets. The Staples Motley baseball team had a great end to the regular season this past week, winning three of the four games played.

The Cards finished out the season with a 14-6 record and were 8-4 in Mid State.

The Cardinals received the No. 2 seed in the Section 6AA playoffs and will host No. 7 Long Prairie- GE this Thursday a t 4 : 3 0 p. m . I f the Cards win, they advance to a second round at Cold Spring Tuesday, May 26 in a 7 p.m. game.

The boys started off the past week playing last year's conference champs, the Perham Yellow jackets.

Until the Jackets came to Staples they had won all 10 of their conference games this year.

In an intense game the Cardinal boys played well, and outplayed Perham in the first game 4-3.

Gunner Johnson did well both on the mound and at the plate, where he went 2-3 with a stolen base. Other hits for the Cards came from Alex Jansson, Trevor Ness, Anthony Jenkins and Devin Becker.

The split of the double header gave the Cards a final conference record of 8-4.

After that first game shock, the 'Jackets came back to down SM in the second game 7-3. The Cards had two long balls, a triple hit by Jordan Riewer, and a double launched by Jansson.

"We played very good baseball today against the conference champs. We are improving every game. We still need to improve in a lot of areas, but I cannot say enough good things about these kids," Coach John Riewer said.

Staples Motley traveled to Minnewaska on Friday, May 15. Despite the cold and windy weather the Cards beat the Lakers 13-3.

Jordan Riewer pitched, striking out seven batters in five innings, and going 2-4 at the plate. Ness had a great game at the plate, hitting two doubles and a single in his four at bats.

Centerfielder Trevor Smith was another alive Cardinal, going 2-3.

On Monday the boys closed the regular season with one more win, against Sauk Centre.

Out at first Second baseman Anthony Jenkins makes the throw to Joe Roline at first for Staples World photo by Kelley Kossan an out in the game against Perham. The Cardinals won 14-2, pounding out 11 hits in the five innings.

Leading the offensive was Ness, who parked a home run, and hit another inside the park to bring in four RBI's. Johnson had a double and a single, while Jenkins hit three singles in three at bats.

"We finished strong at the end of the year; hopefully it will carry into the playoffs. We will find out Thursday night," Coach Riewer commented.

Baseball results

May 12

Game 1 Staples Motley 4, Perham 3

Per. 0-0-0-1-0-0-2 - 3, 3, 1

SM 1-0-0-1-2-0-x - 4 6 0

Winning Pitcher: Gunner Johnson, Save, Jordan Riewer

Hits: Johnson (2-3, run scored, stolen base), Jansson (1- 2, run, stolen

base), Jenkins (1-2, run) Ness, (1-3, run, rbi) Becker (1-3, rbi)

Game 2 Perham 7, SM 3 Per. 0-3-0-0-2-2-0 - 7 10 1

SM 0-0-0-3-0-0-0 - 3 4 3

LP Devin Becker, Alex Jansson

Staples World photo by Kelley Kossan Safe at second Alex Jansson slid safely into second base over the throw from the Perh am catcher. Hits: Jansson (1-3, run, double) Ness (1-3, run, rbi) Johnson (1-3, rbi) Riewer (1-3, triple, 2 rbi's)

May 15 SM 13, Minnewaska 3 SM 5-7-2-0-0 - 13 11 1 M 0-2-0-1-0 - 3 7 6

WP: Jordan Riewer

LP: Kollman

Hits: Ness (3-4, 3 runs, 2 doubles, stolen base, rbi) Riewer (2-4, 2 runs, 2 rbi) Smith (2-3, 2 rbi) Jansson (1-3, run) Jenkins (1-3, 2 runs) Johnson (1-4, run, stolen base) Becker (1-2, 2 runs)

May18 SM 14, Sauk Centre 2 SM 3-6-0-4-1 - 14 11 0 SC 0-0-2-0-0 - 2 6 3 WP Alex Jansson

LP Gieske

Hits: Ness (2-4, 2 runs, 2 home runs, 4 rbi) Riewer (2-3, 2 runs) Johnson (2-4, 2 runs, double, rbi) Jenkins (3-3, 2 runs, 2 rbi) Becker (1-3, run, rbi) Smith (1-2, 2 runs, rbi)