Ness, S-M state-bound

CROSSLAKE - Trevor Ness went 4-for-4 with five RBIs and propelled the Staples-Motley Legion to the District 6 Division II championship Saturday following a 12-2 six-inning victory over Paynesville.

Ness scored three runs and hammered two doubles, a triple and home run for S-M, which beat four tournament foes by a combined score of 34-8.

Ryan Halverson pitched six innings and got the win. He struck out two and walked one and allowed four hits and two earned runs.

Chad Beebe was 2-3 with a run and RBI for S-M, which advances to the state tournament at Sacred Heart Friday through Sunday.

Staples-Motley 12 10 0

Paynesville 2 4 4

6 innings

WP: Ryan Halverson. LP: Ted Hoffman. Record: SM 13-5. Next: SM vs. District 9 champion at noon Friday in Division II state tournament at Sacred Heart.

Thursday's games

Paynesville 6,

Crosslake-FL-PL 4

CROSSLAKE - Paynesville scored twice in the bottom of the 10th to defeat Crosslake-Fifty Lakes/Pequot Lakes 6-4.

C-FL-PL committed five errors and gave up four unearned runs.

Tyler Wittwer was 4-for-5 with three doubles and Ben Kepner was 2-4 with two doubles for C-FL-PL.

Nate Lehman took the loss despite giving up only six hits, striking out five and walking only two.

Crosslake-FL/PL 4 10 5

Paynesville 6 6 2

LP: Nate Lehman.

Royalton 7,

Crosslake-FL-PL 5

A loss to Royalton ended C-FL-PL's season later Thursday.

Jake Serfling was 3-for-4 with a triple for C-FL-PL, Brandon Hilts was 2-4 and Ryan Pahl was 2-4 with a double.

Hilts pitched four scoreless innings in relief.

Crosslake-FL-PL 5 9 3

Royalton 7 6 1

LP: Ben Kepner. Record: Crosslake-FL-PL finishes 13-8.