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Sometimes, they're not sure of what position they hold in their conference until the next day.

Or, perhaps, later that evening when they check out the scroll of scores that trail underneath the highlights on television.

But for the Elks it was easy enough to know they were no worse than tied for first in the Lake Michigan Conference after they swept Harbor Springs at home Tuesday afternoon.

With their pitching and defense keeping the Rams offense completely under wraps all night, the Elks rolled 9-0 and 10-0.

Knowing that their 7-1 league record had them in first place, it was just a matter of whether they owned the top spot all by themselves or shared it.

Grayling split a doubleheader with Traverse City St. Francis to send the Elks soaring into sole possession of the conference lead.

Of course, the season isn't over and there is still plenty to be done before the dust clears.

But the Elks have put themselves in an excellent position to win their second straight league title.

Garrett Gribi limited the Rams to one hit in the opener. Although he struck out just 4 batters, Gribi was overpowering for the entire game.

Elk Rapids struck for six runs in the fourth inning to turn the game into a route.

Fittingly, it was a 2-run base hit by Gribi that highlighted the inning for the Elks.

Theo Stasch also had a run-scoring double while Peter Shugart rapped out 2 hits and scored a pair of runs.

Zac Dreffs picked up the win in the nightcap, and was almost as dominating allowing the Rams only two hits. Like Gribi, Dreffs had 4 strikeouts.

Starting catcher Ian Sliger and Eric Savage had 2 hits apiece for the Elks. Shugart drove in 2 runs.

Grayling rebounded from a 2-1 loss in the first game of its doubleheader with St. Francis to win the nightcap 7-4.

The Vikings are 6-2 in the LMC and 9-6 overall. St. Francis dropped to 5-3 in the league and 9-4 overall.

Elk Rapids split a non-league twin bill at Suttons Bay last Friday, losing the first game 6-5 and winning the second 6-3.

Suttons Bay won the opener on a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the sixth inning.