Playoff action Gunner Johnson slid safely into second base after hitting a double in the American Legion's 2-0 win over Wadena Deer Creek Monday night. Johnson pitched the game and got the team's only two hits. (Staples World photo by Kelley Kossan) The Staples Motley American Legion team won its first game of the sub district playoffs Monday night, defeating Wadena Deer Creek 2-0.

Staples Motley, the No. 1 seed in the sub district, was set to play Sebeka on Tuesday night at Staples in the second round. Sebeka, the No. 2 seed, defeated Bertha Hewitt 4-0 on Monday night At Sebeka.

The tournament is a double elimination format, with the top two teams advancing to the district tournament.

The Monday night win gave the Staples-Motley Legion team a 12-4 overall record in Legion baseball this summer.

Gunner Johnson pitched the Monday night shutout, holding W-DC to just three hits. He pitched the complete seven inning game, facing 30 batters, striking out 16 and walking four W-DC players. He also hit one batter with an errant pitch.

Johnson got good backing from his teammates on the field, as they did not commit an error in the game. However, SM had only two hits, and both of those were timely hits by Johnson. He smacked a double and drove in one of the two SM runs.

On the W-DC side, Kevin Tumberg pitched just as good a game as Johnson, going the complete game, facing 23 batters and striking out five. He walked just two batters and allowed two hits and two runs, just one of them earned.

Three Wadena-DC player got hits, including a double by M. Hagen.

The sub district playoffs continued Tuesday, with Sebeka at Staples Motley at 6:30 p.m. and Wadena-Deer Creek at Bertha-Hewitt, also at 6:30 p.m.

On Thursday, the loser of the Sebeka vs. Staples Motley game will play the winner of W-DC vs. BH game at 5:30 p.m.

The winner of the Sebeka vs. Staples Motley game will play at 7:30 p.m. in Menahga, against the winner of the 5:30 game.

The District 6 Legion tournament is in Paynesville - July 23,24,25 & 26, Thursday through Sunday.

Baseball results

Monday, July 13

First Round Sub District playoffs

Sebeka 4 Bertha-Hewitt 0

Staples Motley 2 Wadena- Deer Creek 0

Wadena-Deer Creek at Staples Motley

W-DC 0-0-0-0-0-0-0 - 0 3 2

SM 1-0-0-0-1-0-x - 2 2 0

Winning pitcher: Gunner Johnson - 7 IP, 30 BF, 16 K, 4 BB, 1 HP, 3 hits, 0 runs, 0 earned

Losing pitcher: Kevin Tumberg - 6 IP, 23 BF, 5 K, 2 BB, 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned

Leading hitter for SM: Gunner Johnson - 2-3, double, RBI

Leading hitters for Wadena- Deer Creek: M. Hagen 1-3,double; C. Lugert 1-2; N. Goeden 1-2.