Laurel, IN – The St. Louis Cardinals faced off against the Yellow Jackets in a spirited matchup on Monday.
In the 5th grade game, the Yellow Jackets struck quickly, scoring 6 points at the outset, compelling the Cardinals to call an early timeout. After regrouping, the Cardinals found their momentum and dominated the remainder of the first half. By halftime, they had established a commanding 16-point lead.
The second half continued to showcase the Cardinals’ strong performance as they added 11 points in the third quarter and 12 in the fourth, ultimately securing a decisive victory with a final score of 50-19. Levi Nobbe led the Cardinals with 13 points, closely followed by teammate JJ Hountz, who contributed 12 points. Other scorers included Lucas Werner with 7 points, Kaleb Hardebeck with 6, Luke Enneking with 4, and Isaac Nunez with 2. This impressive win improved the Cardinals’ record to 7-1 for the season.
In contrast, the 6th grade team’s game did not go as planned. Despite their tough fight and moments of solid defense, the Cardinals struggled offensively and were unable to find their shooting touch. They fell to the Yellow Jackets with a final score of 40-18. Notable scorers for the Cardinals included Nicholas Lieland with 7 points, Owen Wanstrath with 4, Johnny Tekulve with 3, and Ross Lieland and Nolan Steinkamp each contributing 2 points.
This doubleheader showcased the highs and lows of youth sports, highlighting the resilience of the 5th-grade Cardinals while providing an opportunity for the 6th graders to learn and grow from their experiences. With a strong foundation set by their older teammates, there’s hope that the younger players will bounce back and improve in their upcoming games.