Second baseman Mark Kossan (above) made the throw to first to get the Brainerd runner out. Eric Hybl (at right) closed his glove on the ball just seconds before the Brainerd runner reached the bag. (Staples World photos by Kelley Kossan) The Staples Motley American Legion baseball team last week won two games and lost one while playing teams from Park Rapids and Wadena-Deer Creek.

The SM boys on, July 2 downed Park Rapids 12-4 in their first game, but then lost a 3-2 contest.

On July 5, Coach John Riewer’s boys traveled to Bluffton to play Wadena- Deer Creek, getting a 7-2 win on the only field in that area that didn’t have signifi cant damage from the June 17 tornado that hit Wadena and Bluffton.

In game one at Park Rapids, Eric Hybl pitched the first two innings and got the win, giving up four hits and just two earned runs. Jordan Riewer came in on relief, pitching the final three innings and striking out four and giving up just one hit.

Riewer also slammed a home run and a double to lead the charge at the plate. Tyler O’Brien had three hits and two runs batted in, while Trevor Ness had two hits, including a double and two RBI’s. Anthony Jenkins also was two for four, scoring twice and getting an RBI.

Ness pitched the second five inning game, giving up five hits and three runs to the Panther squad. Ness had six strikeouts but gave up four walks as well. SM in the field had two errors while Park played an error free game.

Leading SM hitters were Ness with two hits, while Blake Petrich, Riewer, Brent Sterriker and Kyle Jansson each had one hit.

The American Legion team boosted its won loss record to 8-4 on July 5,with their 7-2 win over Wadena- Deer Creek.

Riewer pitched all seven innings, giving up four hits, two runs and two walks. He struck out ten W-DC batters.

Blake Petrich throws to first baseman Eric Hybl in an attempt to pick off the Brainerd VFW’s runner. (Staples World photo by Kelley Kossan) Big hitters included Riewer and Ness. Riewer was two for three at the plate, with a double and two RBI’s, and Ness was two for four, also with a double and two RBI’s.

Getting one hit apiece were Gunner Johnson, Blake Petrich, Austin Redemske, Tyler O’Brien, Jeremy Hoemberg and Alek Paskewitz.

This week SM traveled on Wednesday night to Bertha-Hewitt.

The American Legion playoffs are July 12- 15 (Monday-Tuesday - Thursday) at Menahga, with games at 4 and 6:30 p.m. It will be a double elimination tournament for the sub-district teams that include: Bertha-Hewitt, Cass Lake, Park Rapids, Sebeka, Staples Motley, Wadena- Deer Creek and Walker.

Baseball results July 2 SM at PR

Game 1

SM - 12 runs - 11 hits - 2 errors

PR - 4 runs - 5 hits - 0 errors

Winning Pitcher:

Eric Hybl - 2 Ip (1-2) - 13 BF - 1 K - 2 BB - 4 hits - 4 runs - 2 earned

Save: Jordan Riewer - 3 Ip (3-4-5) - 10 BF - 4 K - 0 BB - 1 hit - 0 runs - 0 earned

Leading hitters:

Jordan Riewer - 3-4, double, home run, 2 runs, 2 RBI’s

Tyler O’Brien - 3-4, run, 2 RBI’s

Trevor Ness - 2-4, double, 2 runs, 2 RBI’s

Anthony Jenkins - 2-4, 2 runs, RBI

Also getting hits: Brent Stericker - 1-2, run

Also scoring:

Blake Petrich - Austin Redemske (2) - Jordan Denning

Game 2

PR - 3 runs - 5 hits - 0 errors SM - 2 runs - 6 hits - 2 errors

Losing Pitcher:

Trevor Ness - 5 IP - 23 BF - 6 K - 4 BB - 6 hits - 3 runs - 2 earned

Leading hitter: Trevor Ness - 2-3, run

Also getting hits: Blake Petrich - 1-3 Jordan Riewer - 1-3, run Brent Stericker - 1-1 Kyle Jansson - 1-2

July 5,

Staples Motley 7, Wadena- Deer Creek 2

SM - 7 runs - 10 hits - 3 errors

W-DC - 2 runs - 4 hits - 3 errors

WP: Jordan Riewer - 7 IP - 29 BF - 10 K - 2 BB - 4 hits - 2 runs - 1 earned

LP: Kevin Tumberg

Leading hitters: Jordan Riewer - 2-3, run, double, 2 RBI’s; Trevor Ness - 2-4, run, double, 2 RBI’s

Also getting hits:

Gunner Johnson - 1-3, 2 runs; Blake Petrich - 1-4, stolen base, RBI; Austin Redemske - 1-4; Tyler

O’Brien - 1-4; Jeremy Hoemberg - 1-3, run; Alek Paskewitz - 1-2, 2 runs