Pickoff attempts Staples Motley Legion players Monday night had to scamper back to first base more than once. Above Alex Jansson reaches for the base, while below Trevor Smith slides in before the tag. The Cardinals won 4-2 over the Sebeka Trojans. (Staples World photo by Kelley Kossan)

The Staples Motley American Legion team claimed their fifth and sixth wins without a loss this past week, with a 8- 0 win Wednesday, June 17 over W-DC and a 4-2 win over Sebeka on Monday, June 22.

The Legion downed Wadena-Deer Creek 8-0 behind the pitching of Gunner Johnson, who struck out 18 of the 26 batters he faced.

Johnson's pitching provided

a gem of a ball game. "It was a dominating pitching

performance by Gunner. We got 18 of the 21 outs by strikeouts," Coach John Riewer said. "It was one of the those individual performances you rarely get to see."

Johnson did issue five walks and W-DC got two hits, but his teammates backed him up without making a single fielding error.

Johnson was also one of two players with two hits in the game. Leading hitters were Jordan Riewer, who had two hits and scored one run and knocked in two runs. Johnson hit a double and single, scored one run and drove in another.

Devin Becker hit a double and knocked in two runs. Others getting hits were Anthony Jenkins, Tyler Jenniges, Trevor Ness, and Dylan Shequen.

Playing at home on Monday night against a tough Sebeka team, Becker led the team both at the plate and on the field. Devin pitched six full innings, getting five strikeouts, while giving up just two hits and two earned runs. He faced 25 batters and issued five walks.

At the plate, Devin went two for two, hitting a double (the team's only extra base hit) and scoring a run.

Others getting Staples Motley hits were Jordan Riewer, with two, and one each for Alex Jansson and Brandon Haglin.

Riewer pitched the final inning in relief, getting credit for a save with two strikeouts and no hits allowed.

The American Legion has several games on tap this week including Staples Motley at Verndale at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 25,

They will be playing at Akeley on Sunday, facing the Walker-Hackensack- Akeley Legion team, starting at 6:30 p.m.

The Legion boys will be home on Monday night, facing Verndale at 6:30 p.m. and again home vs. Bertha Hewitt on Tuesday, June 30 at 6:30 p.m.

Game results

June 17

Wadena-Deer Creek at Staples Motley

W-DC 0-0-0-0-0-0-0 - 0 2 2

SM 3-2-1-2-0-0-x - 8 9 0

Winning pitcher: Gunner Johnson - 7 IP, 26 BF, 18 K, 5 BB, 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 earned runs

Losing pitcher: M. Hagen

Leading hitters: Jordan Riewer - 2-3, run, 2 rbi's; Gunner Johnson - 2-4, run, double, rbi

Also getting hits: Anthony Jenkins - 1-2, 2 runs; Tyler Jenniges - 1-1; Trevor Ness - 1-1, run; Devin Becker - 1-3, double, 2 rbi's; Dylan Shequen - 1-2, run

Also scoring: Sam Duberowski June 22 SM 4, Sebeka 2

Sebeka 2-0-0-0-0-0-0 - 2 2 3

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

Winning pitcher: Devin Becker - 6 IP, 25 BF, 5 K, 5 BB, 2 hits, 2 runs, 2 earned

Jordan Riewer - (Save) - 1 IP, 3 BF, 2 K, 0 BB, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 earned

Leading hitters: Devin Becker - 2-2, double, run; Jordan Riewer - 2-3, rbi; Alex Jansson - 1-3, 2 rbi's; Brandon Haglin - 1-2, run

2009 High School awards

Senior Awards: Trevor Ness, Devin Becker, Joe Roline, Anthony Jenkins, and Peter Thorman

Mid State All Conference - Gunner Johnson, Jordan Riewer, Trevor Ness, and Alex Jansson

Honorable Mention Mid State All Conference - Devin Becker and Anthony Jenkins

MVP and Golden Arm Awards - Gunner Johnson

Golden Bat Award - Trevor Ness

Most Improved - Sam Duberowski

Hardest Worker - Brandon Haglin

Golden Glove Award and Most Enthusiastic - Trevor Smith

Cardinal Pride Award - Joe Roline