Lamar 18 & Under Team Wins Merchants Park Tournament

Bottom L to R: Brendan Burns, Derek Schroeder, Kodiak Ratzlaff, Casey Fassiotto, Kelby Fassiotto, Payden Breneman, Jamin Tate, Jordan Jara
Top: L to R: Chaz Hebberd, Tanner Barth, Tylor Jara, Bryan Gonzalez, Brandon Reed, Isiah Martinez, Zach Ramsay, Coach – Bart Cruikshank
Not Pictured: Saul Pizzaro

The Lamar Merchants 18 & Under host team took only one loss during the three day Babe Ruth State Tournament this past Friday through Sunday at Merchants Park and won, defeating Limon in the extra game. 

Four teams had been scheduled for the double elimination tournament, but because Burlington dropped out at the last minute, the schedule was revised to accommodate the remaining three: Lamar, Limon and Kiowa. 

Lamar, coached by Bart Cruikshank,  claimed the first victory Friday afternoon, dropping Limon 11 to 7, and the team came back on Saturday morning to defeat Kiowa 8 to 2.  Kiowa lost to Limon in the second game of the day, 11 to 1. 

The first Sunday game went to Limon, 7 to 5 and that brought the second game to be played at 11am.  Lamar just squeaked by Limon for the championship, 1 to 0.

By Russ Baldwin