Luverne is on the brink of running away with the Big South Conference Small Division. The Cardinals (9-1, 6-0) have won all their conference contests by at least three runs and have scored 10 or more against their last three league opponents while several of their rivals, including St. James, continue hovering around the .500 league-record mark.
Luverne hit .581 as a team in a 17-2 rout of Redwood Valley on April 16. Senior infielder Ben Serie paved the way for the offense with three hits and four RBI.
St. James (4-7, 2-3) has come a long way since last season. A year ago, the Saints lost both games of their doubleheader against Luverne by a combined score of 21-1 and finished the league slate without a win.
This year’s St. James squad seems more poised, despite losing their last three games. Senior infielder Kobe Mohwinkel helped spark the immediate turnaround at the start of the season, knocking two hits and garnering four RBI in the team’s 10-1 season-opening win over Martin County West on April 5.
--Second game to follow