Tel Gardner’s near complete game effort on the hill was enough to keep North Sevier off balance as the Emery Spartans earned a 2-0 win in 2A East region play Wednesday afternoon in Castle Dale.

Needing to win out in order to compete for a region title, the Spartans played a near perfect game defensively. Gardner recorded nine strikeouts and allowed just five hits in 6.2 innings of work, while the rest of the team played error free baseball in the field.

The Spartans scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the third as Logan Labrum blasted a double to score Jordan Baletka. Emery added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth as sophomore Kyson Stilson recorded a two out single for an RBI.

Rocky Bringhurst was hit with the loss for North Sevier, allowing three hits, striking out six and giving up one earned run in four frames. Brooks Mickelson pitched the remaining two innings, also allowing one earned run.

Tuesday’s win keeps the Spartans in contention for a region championship with only three games remaining on the slate. Now 5-2 on the season, the Spartans trail Grand and Gunnison by one game in the standings.

Emery will resume the season as they meet North Sevier for the second and final time on the road Friday. Next week the Spartans will wrap up the season with an away-home set with Gunnison.