The Merrill Junior Legion 17’s lost a 4-3 heartbreaker to Marshfield on a two-out, walk-off 3-run homer in the semi-final of last weekend’s American Legion Rapids Regional.
Merrill opened with a 3-0 victory over eventual tourney champ Rapids, then lost 6-0 to Stevens Point, although Point was given the defeat for using an ineligible pitcher.
After Rapids pulled out an 11-3 win over Merrill, the boys suffered their Marshfield loss.
“The team came together,” Merrill manager Adam Getgen said. “It was a great tournament for us.
“Dylan Burkam pitched lights out for us, with 17 innings in four days. Eric Leavitt was our hitter of note. (Shortstop) Tyler Knutson and (second-baseman) Nick Sherfinski just played solid baseball in our center infield.”
Burkam gave up 1 hit and 2 walks in the shut-out of Rapids. Leavitt hit 4-11 for the tourney.