---

After a pair of heart wretching games that came down to the last out, the Dodgeville Knights assured themselves of at least a .500 season and a spot in the post season play-offs.
The win came Sunday at Monroe as the Knights got past the Brewers 5-2. That set their Western Section record at 8-7 with a game Sunday at Ridgeway set to complete the regualr season.
Monroe scored solo runs in the first and fifth off Bobby Noland who was untouchable except for those two times. He worked 6 1/3 innings, spaced 10 hits while walking three and striking out one.
Mark Ludwig closed the game with 2 2/3 innings of relief. He gave up one hit, fanned two and walked one.
Brandon Weier knocked in Ludwig with single to tie the game in the fourth.
Ty Marklein doubled to plate courtesy runner Randy Strickland and Tony DeMuth who had singled. Travis Elvert then sent out a sac fly to send in Tanner Solberg who had reached on a walk.
Marc Thompson doubled in the final Knights run when Solberg singled and moved up on Marklein's bunt.
The Knights had four doubles, one each by Marklein, Thompson, Elvert, and Jay Lindner.
Marklein and Ludwig both went 2x3 and Solberg was 2x5.
Saturday a passed ball with two outs and two strikes on the batter with the bases loaded gave Argyle a 6-5 in over the Knights in the bottom of the ninth.
That spoiled a strong pitching performance by Kyle Spurley and Travis Elvert.
Spurley fanned 12 in a seven inning four hitter. Elvert struck out two in a 1 2/3 relief stint.
Ryan Reilly had all five rbis for the Knights. He sent in a run with a sacrifice fly in the first inning that plated Ludwig who had doubled.
He then sent a grand slam home run over the left field wall, 460 feet from home plate, in the third. Brad Simmons and Solberg both singled and Ludwig coaxed a walk to load the bases, setting the stage for Reilly's blast.
Reilly was 2x3 while Solberg, Ludwig, Weier and Simmons had one hit.
In Night League play the Knights lost 6-5 to the Sauk Prairie Twins last Thursday.
A double by Lucas Koenig provided the winning run.
Simmons and Noland both pitched.
Solberg was 2x4 and Ludwig 2x3 to lead the Knights. One of Ludwig's hits was a double.
Jay Lindner and Chris Clerkin had the other two Dodgeville hits.