Helper Merchants go 2-2 at RBI Tournament

The Helper Merchants American Legion baseball team won two games, and lost two games, of the RBI Tournament held Thursday through Saturday in Burley, Idaho.
The Merchants lost the first game of the tournament against Pocatello, Idaho 4-3. Pocatello got out to a quick lead in the top of the first inning, scoring two runs, but the Merchants quickly tied the game in the bottom of the inning, as two runners scored on an RBI single by Kameron Gunter.
Pocatello took the lead again in the second inning with one run, and added another run late in the game for insurance. While the Merchants scored one in the seventh on an error, Pocatello was able to get out of the inning and win the game.
Helper won its second game of the tournament 11-10 against Burley, Idaho, with the help of an eight-run third inning. Burley took a seven-run lead after two innings, but Helper chipped away at the lead, tallying three runs of its own in the second inning, on an RBI double by Wyatt Wilson and a two-RBI single by Cody Lowe.
Burley got two runs back in the top of the third, but Helper went on a tear in the bottom of the inning, scoring eight runs to take the lead. Helper took advantage of mistakes by Burley, scoring on passed balls and walks. Wilson, Jayden Flemett and Taylon Abeyta hit RBI singles to extend the inning. Burley managed a run in the fourth inning to bring the score within one, but the Dinos were able to hold on through the fifth inning for the win.
The third game of the tournament proved to be a pitcher’s duel in which the Merchants game out victorious over Minico, Idaho. Adrian Sanchez threw seven shutout innings for Helper, striking out six and allowing no walks. The Merchants won 1-0, with the only run coming on an RBI single by Gunter in the fourth inning.
Helper lost the final game of the tournament against Bishop Kelly, Idaho 9-7, despite scoring five runs in the fourth inning. Doubles by Ty Anderson and Taylon Abeyta, who also had a triple in the game, were not enough to overcome Bishop Kelly’s early lead.
The Merchants hold a season record of 3-2 after the tournament. Helper hosted a game against Roosevelt Monday, the results of which were not available at the time of print.