High stepper Legion pitcher Gunner Johnson was more than a match for the Bertha-Hewitt Legion team June 30. He pitched a one-hit shut-out, struck out 15 B-H batters and gained a 5-0 win. (Staples World photo by Tom Crawford)

The month of June ended with the Staples Motley American Legion team winning two more games but suffering their second loss of the season, losing after a seventh inning, walk -off home run at Crosslake.

Jordan Riewer pitched a fine game July 2 at Crosslake for Staples Motley, going all the way, getting seven strike outs and walking only two batters.

The Staples Motley team was ahead 1-0 with one out and one on in the seventh inning. Jacob Box came to the plate for Crosslake and smacked a Riewer pitch over the fence for the 2-1 win.

Both starting pitchers had tossed complete games in a pitcher's duel with Crosslake hurler Tom LaRue picking up the win. striking out four while scattering eight hits and a run.

Riewer, Chad Beebe and Joe Roline each collected two hits apiece for SM, with Riewer getting a third inning single that drove in the only run for the SM crew.

Helping his cause Legion pitcher Gunner Johnson laid down a near perfect bunt during the Staples Motley Legion's 5-0 win over Bertha Hewitt on Tuesday, June 30. (Staples World photo by Tom Crawford)

The Staples Motley American Legion was 10-2 after the Crosslake game, with games this week on Monday at Wadena; on Tuesday, July 7 at Browerville and Wednesday, July 8 at Sebeka.

American Legion playoffs begin Friday July 10, with action continuing next week on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday as long as the team continues winning.

Earlier, on Monday, June 29, Alex Jansson smacked a grand slam home run in the third inning, boosting his Legion team to a sevenrun inning and a 16-1 win over the Verndale Legion squad.

Jansson also pitched the game, striking out seven, while giving up just one walk, one hit and one run while facing just 19 batters.

The win was the ninth for the season.

Jansson had three hits in four appearances at the plate and had a total of five runs batted in. Trevor Smith was four for four with a double; Trevor Ness had two hits, scoring twice and getting an RBI, and Eric Hybl was also a twohit player, scoring once and knocking in one run.

Conference Coach John Riewer called some of his players to a conference near third base in the third inning while the opposing team, Bertha Hewitt, held a time-out on the mound. Tyler Jenniges, left, was at bat, with Chad Beebe (27) and Jordan Riewer (16) both on base. Jenniges got a key hit after this, getting one of his two RBI's. (Staples World photo by Tom Crawford)

After Verndale, the Legion team hosted Bertha Hewitt on Tuesday, June 30.

Gunner Johnson pitched a one hit shutout that night to propel the Legion team to a 5-0 win over the Bertha Hewitt Legion, getting help from his teammates who got eight hits and made no errors in the field.

Johnson pitched another gem, striking out 15 batters in seven innings while giving up five walks. Johnson and Ryan Denny for the Bears had themselves a scoreless tie for three innings as both pitchers dominated the batters. Then SM's Tyler Jenniges and Tony Jenkins started hitting, Jenniges going three for three and knocking in two runs with well placed singles. Jenkins was two for four at the plate, including a double, helping the Staples Motley crew to take a 2-0 lead in the fourth and then build on that with two more runs in the fifth and another in the sixth.

The Legion team, after three games in three days, had a Wednesday game against Cass Lake canceled.

This was the tenth win against just one loss this summer for the Staples Motley American Legion squad, coached by Johnny Riewer. Baseball results

Monday, June 29, 2009 Staples Motley 16, Verndale 1 at Staples Motley

Vern.	-	1-0-0-0-0	-	1	1	7
SM	-	3-2-7-4-x	-	16	16	2

Winning pitcher: Alex Jansson - 5 IP, 19 BF, 7 K, 1 BB, 1 hit, 1 run, 1 unearned

Leading hitters:

Alex Jansson - 3-4, 2 runs scored, home run, 5 RBI's; Trevor Smith - 4-4, run, double, 2 RBI's; Trevor Ness - 2-3, 2 runs, RBI; Eric Hybl- 2-4, run, RBI

Also getting hits: Chad Beebe - 1-4, double, run, RBI; Anthony Jenkins - 1-2, 2 runs,

double, RBI; Gunner Johnson - 1-2, run; Joe Roline - 1-4, run,

RBI; Tyler Jenniges - 1-2, run, RBI

Tuesday, June 30,

Staples Motley 5, Bertha- Hewitt 0

BH 0-0-0-0-0-0-0 - 0 1 0 SM 0-0-0-2-2-1-x - 5 8 0

Winning pitcher: Gunner Johnson - 7 IP, 26 BF, 15 K, 5 BB, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 earned

LP: Ryan Denny

Leading hitters: Tyler Jenniges - 3-3, run, 2 RBI's; Anthony Jenkins - 2-4, run, double, RBI; Alex Jansson 1-4; Trevor Ness 1-3; Chad Beebe 1-3, run

Also scoring: Jordan Riewer and Gunner Johnson

July 2 at Crosslake
Crosslake 2, SM 1
SM	0-0-1-0-0-0-0 -	1	8	0
CL	0-0-0-0-0-0-2 -	2	8	1

Losing pitcher: Jordan Riewer - 6 1/3 ip, 29 bf, 7 k, 2 bb, 8 hits, 2 runs, 2 earned

Leading hitters: Jordan Riewer 2-3, RBI; Chad Beebe 2-4; Joe Roline 2-3; Trevor Ness 1-4; Trevor Smith 1-3