Sumner High baseball coach John Welker got his wish last week as he asked his batters to relax and have some fun at the plate, instead of pressing for the extra base hits all the time.

“The runs will come,” Welker said, and they did.

The approach worked in two of three games during the final week of regular season action, as the Spartans finished in a deadlock for third with Auburn Mountainview in the South Puget Sound League 3A standings, with each squad completing their regular seasons 10-6.

At press time no tiebreaker scenario had been established but, either way, Sumner will be heading to Russell Road Park in Kent Friday to play a nonelimination game with either Hazen or Kennedy Catholic from the Seamount League.

Last week’s play began April 27 when the Spartans traveled to Franklin Pierce. Thanks to a couple of long balls from Alex Sloan and Brad Falk, Sumner won 6-3, with pitcher Cameron Steffey going the distance and collecting his sixth league win of the season.

April 28 on Sumner’s diamond, White River came to town and gave the Spartans a dose of their own medicine, blowing SHS away with back-to-back homers in the top of the fifth frame on the way to a 4-1 victory.

Thursday, with Sumner ahead 5-4 in the top of the seventh, Falk spoiled Bonney Lake’s homecoming with a grand slam in the top of the seventh.