by Aaron Torres KAMLOOPS, BC- It’s been a tale of two tournaments for the Midnight Sun Goldpanners. After a 2-1 loss Thursday night to the Seattle Studs, the team looked like it might be leaving the Kamloops International Baseball Tournament early. However, that loss may have ended up being the best thing that happened to the team, as they’ve since outscored their opponents 25-4, including a dominating 17-3 victory over the Red Deer Riggers Saturday. The game was called after 4 ½ innings because of a mercy rule. The Goldpanners wasted no time jumping on the overmatched Riggers from the start. Four of the first six batters in the game for the Goldpanners scored, highlighted by Eric Lane and Josh Kalalau, who each had first inning doubles. Just the next inning, the Goldpanners were even more efficient offensively, when 10 batters came to the plate, scoring seven more runs. The home team added five more 4th inning runs, totaling 17, and sealing a victory that was called on the previously mentioned 10 run mercy rule. Overall it was an excellent day at the plate for the Goldpanners, as every starter had at least one hit, one run scored, and all but one added an RBI. Trent Olezszcuk reached base all four times he came to the plate, scoring three runs, and Mykal Stokes went 2-4 with 3 RBI. Tim Culligan started the game on the mound for the Goldpanners, securing his first win of the summer. The right hander from Lower Columbia College only had to go three innings in the shortened game, as he gave up just three hits and one unearned run in the process. A.J. Burke and Derek Speigner came in to shut the door for the Goldpanners. The Goldpanners advanced in the loser’s bracket to be play the Kelowna Blue Jays at 10 a.m. Sunday. Should they win, they’ll play again at 12:30 p.m., and if they win the second game, will play a nine inning championship game at 3 p.m. Be sure to stick with www.goldpanners.com for continuing coverage.