The Thomson Area Merchants men’s fast pitch softball team opened the 2009 season taking second place at the Dick Tracy Men's Fastpitch Tournament in Rockford, IL.  


    The Merchants went 2-0 on Saturday beginning with a 3-1 victory over BAC Pride from Rockford. Dean Zink got the win allowing only an unearned run in the 7th and was 3 for 3 at the plate. In the second game on Saturday the Merchants pulled out an exciting victory over Dolan & Murphy of Aurora by a score of 2-1. Kevin Anderson and Scott Beal each had two hits and an RBI apiece while BJ Gulick went 3-4. Beal's RBI double scored Gulick with the winning run in the bottom of the 7th. Sean Kelly got the win allowing just 4 hits. 


    On Sunday the Merchants lost their first game to Chicago Fastpitch by a score of 5-0. The merchants only managed to collect 2 hits off Ray Reynolds. Kelly took the loss with 10 strikeouts. The Merchants followed that with a 12-1 run rule win over the Warsaw Stag Boys. They pounded out 12 hits to support Zink as he won his second game of the tournament putting the Merchants into the Championship game.   


    The Championship game was a rematch with Dolan & Murphy and it proved to be another exciting finish. This time it was D&M's turn to come out on top with a 3-2 win in 10 innings. The Merchants out hit D&M 9-7 led by Gulick, Zink, and Beal with 2 hits each with Zink driving in the two runs. Kelly took the loss for the Merchants while striking out 14 batters.   
    The Merchants were without several players from their normal roster and would like to thank Nate Agard, Sean Kelly, Dean Zink, Todd Baber, and Darrin Oppold for filling in. The Merchants will be in action again May 23-24 in Walcott, IA for the Walcott Memorial Day Tournament.


    The latest news and results for the Merchants can be found on the team website at www.thomsonfastpitch.com.