The Helper Merchants ended the 2019 season with back-to-back losses at the Utah State American Legion Tournament Friday and Saturday in Salt Lake.

Entering the tournament as the No. 3 seed from the Central Division, Helper was paired with Taylorsville in the opening round. The two teams battled into extra innings, but the Merchants fell short in the tight contest.

Scoring five runs in the first two innings, Helper was held scoreless over the next five frames in the eventual 9-5 loss.

Cody Lowe started the game on the mound and allowed one run in the first four innings. Rylan Hart entered the contest in relief, giving up three in the fifth. Taylorsville tied the contest with a run in the sixth, sending the game to extra innings.

Taylorsville took complete control by delivering a four run eighth inning. The Helper bats remained cold as the team was shutout in the bottom half of the inning, leading to the eventual loss.

Friday’s loss dropped Helper into the one-loss bracket where the team was faced with elimination against Herriman.

In the win-or-go-home tilt Helper again struggled at the plate as they were held to just two hits in a 6-0 loss. Saturday’s meeting marked the second of the season between the two teams. Helper won the first 5-4.

Despite starting the season with a 12-1 record the Merchants dropped their final four games of the season. As a whole the team ended with a record of 15-7-1, which includes a four game tournament road trip in Idaho to start the season.

Stay tuned to Castle Country Radio for a complete season recap interview with manager Dakota Cisneros.