Detroit Lakes, MN – For the second tournament in a row the Jamestown Merchants advanced to the Sunday title game only to come up short. This time the M’s lost to the Jamestown Elks 4-1 in the title game of the Angels Amateur Tournament in Detroit Lakes.

The Merchants yet again stranded numerous runners.  Team manager Bryan Erstad who went 3 for 3 at the plate could sense the outcome, “For whatever reason, there wasn’t a whole lot of life in the dugout today.  It was a beautiful Sunday championship day versus the Elks and we laid an egg.  It’s unacceptable.  I think the Holiday Haven and Zorbaz had something to do with it, too.” 

The Merchants had plenty of chances against the Elks but could only muster a single run in the seventh. The Elks padded their 1-0 lead with three runs in the sixth off Merchant starter Brandon Baumgartner to take a 4-0 lead entering the seventh. Baumgartner took the lost for the M’s going six innings while giving up four unearned runs.  Baumgartner stated, “I didn’t have my best stuff but it was good enough to win today.  It’s not my fault there were four more unearned runs” bringing his total to 8 runs allowed this year, 0 earned.  Baumy continued, “Bryan Erstad carried the offense all weekend, but there’s only so much he can do.  It’s not like he can hit a home run every game.”

Erstad and the Merchant pitching were the story of the first two games of the tournament.

On Friday night, Greg Lunski fired six scoreless innings on the mound against the Staples Lumberbats to collect his first win of year as the M’s won 7-0. Lunski struck out eight and only allowed three hits.

The Merchants only had five hits, Jason Angelo and Bryan Erstad each had two apiece, with Erstad connecting on his first home run of the year to open the game up in the fifth.

On Saturday, Steve Hirchert and Bryan Erstad punched the Merchants ticket to the title game beating the Detroit Lakes Angels 3-2. Hirchert struck out 13 Angel batters, while Erstad provided the Merchants with their only offense of the game blasting a three run home run off the playground in right-center.

The Merchants take the diamond on Wednesday against the Pelican Rapids Lakers at Helling Field in Fargo; first pitch is scheduled for 7:30 PM.