Pitcher Garrett Secora makes the throw to first base to get the Perham runner out in one of the Babe Ruth team’s games last week. The younger Babe Ruth team lost out in the playoffs last week. First game they won by forfeit, second game they lost to Perham, third game they lost to Dent. (Staples World photo by Kelley Kossan) The Staples Motley American Legion baseball team managed a win in their first game of the Legion District tournament last week, but then lost two games in the double elimination competition.

The Cardinal squad dumped Paynesville 12-1 Thursday in their opening game, but then dropped a tight 2-1 contest to Maple Lake on Thursday.

On Friday, the Legion Post 124 squad lost a hard fought 11-6 game to Holdingford, despite two home runs by Trevor Ness and a triple and double by teammates.

The Staples Motley team opened District 6, Division II play on Thursday by blasting Paynesville 12-1.

Brady Becker at shortstop fielded a ground ball in one of the younger Babe Ruth team’s playoff games last week. (Staples World photo by Kelley Kossan) Trevor Ness was 2 for 4 and blasted two home runs to drive in three runs. Blake Petrich was 2-3 and Tyler Jenniges was 2-3 with three runs scored.

Jordan Riewer knocked in six runs with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate with three doubles and two runs scored.

Gunner Johnson pitched the win, striking out 13. He didn’t give up a walk while allowing just four hits and one earned run in five innings of work.

In the second game played on Thursday, Maple Lake pitcher Mitch Wurm held the Cardinals to just three hits in an eight inning game that was won 2-1 by Maple Lake.

Alex Jansson got two of the three Cardinal hits. He hit a double and scored the only run for Staples Motley in the loss in the second round of the District 6, playoffs.

Chad Beebe had the only other hit for Staples Motley.

Playing Friday morning in Paynesville, the Cards got a tremendous hitting performance but still lost by five runs to Holdingford’s Legion squad.

Trevor Ness finished 2-for-2 with two home runs, two runs scored and three RBIs for Staples Motley in their final game of the season.

Jordan Riewer finished 2-5 with two runs and two RBI’s. Alex Jansson was 2-4 with a double. Gunner Johnson scored twice and hit a triple and Chad Beebe, Tyler O’Brien and Tyler Jenniges each had hits for Coach John Riewer’s team.

Staples Motley finished with a 12-7 mark in Legion play this summer.

Pitchers Jeremy Hoemberg, Gunner Johnson and Jordan Riewer each had three of the 12 Cardinal wins this summer. Hoemberg was 3-1 with a 3.79 earned run average.

Johnson, who was 3-0, had a 2.33 earned run average in 21 innings pitched, while Riewer had a 1.94 ERA while pitching just under 40 innings. He had two losses as well.

At the plate, Trevor Ness had a .491 average, getting 28 hits,including six doubles and seven home runs. He also had 32 runs batted in.

Riewer finished with a .440 average,with 26 hits,

six doubles, two home runs and 20 RBI’s.

Johnson had a .282 average, getting 13 hits including three doubles and three triples. Blake Petrich had a 265 average with 13 hits, including a double and a triple.

See full season statistics for the Legion team with this article.

Baseball results

Game 1 Staples Motley 12 10 1 Paynesville 1 4 1 WP: Gunner Johnson.

LP: Aaron Sadelkoal.

2B: SM-Jordan Riewer 3. HR: SM-Trevor Ness 2.

Game 2:

Maple Lake 2, Staples Motley 1 (8 innings)

Staples Motley 1 3 1 Maple Lake 2 9 0

WP: Mitch Wurm.

LP: Jordan Riewer. 2B: Alex Jansson.

Game 3 Holdingford 11 11 2 Staples Motley 6 10 2 WP: Jarnot.

LP: Alex Jansson.

2B: SM-Alex Jansson. 3B: SM-Gunner Johnson. HR: SMTrevor Ness 2.