The Helper Merchants 17u squad continued their play in the American Legion State Tournament that has been taking place in Price Since Monday.  After winning their first round match-up in convincing fashion, they moved into the the next round facing the No. 1 seed Ridgeline on  Tuesday night at the Carbon High fields. The contest started quietly with neither team putting anything on the board until the third, but in the end Ridgeline walked away with the 5-2.

Helper had trouble finding offense until late in the game when Jace Barlow sent a fly ball to center that drove in Peyton Molinar that cut the score to 3-1. The top of the seventh would open up with Molinar hitting a triple to center and then the next batter up Stockton Kennedy grounded out to the short stop but that allowed Molinar to score putting the Ridgeline lead at 3, and that was as close as the Merchants got falling 5-2.

Kennedy got the start on the bump putting in  4 1/3 innings of work and allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out two. Maddux Hart came in to go 1 2/3 surrendering a hit, a run and struck out one.

Offensively, Barlow registered two hits and an RBI with Kennedy earning an RBI as well.

The Merchants will head back to the field Wednesday at 2 p.m. to face the Trapper Blue team that they defeated on Monday 13-3.

Check back with Castle Country Radio for updates on the American Legion 17u Tournament as they become available.