The outstanding season of the Travelers came to an end on a wet Sunday morning with a 5-4 loss to the Midwest Nationals.

The Travelers gave up four unearned runs in the first inning before settling down, but could not rally from the big early deficit.

The Travelers cut the deficit to 4-1 in the second when Rebel Ridling singled and scored on a Reece Creswell double before the Nationals added a run on a controversial double in the third that appeared to be foul.

In The bottom of the third, the Travelers strung together a double by Jordy Mercer and singles from Brett Davis and Brett Case to cut the margin to 5-3.

The Travelers picked up another run in the fourth as Chance Gerloff doubled and scored on a Case double.

The final rally came in the seventh as the Travelers loaded the bases on a Case single, Nationals error and Ridling single, but Michael Crabtree lined out and Creswell grounded out to end the game.

Brett Davis was solid after the first inning on the mound, scattering seven hits while striking out eight in the losing effort against a squad made up of top players from throughout the midwest United States.

Travelers finish 64-17 on the season as Brett Case, Chance Gerloff, Justin Ferguson and Reece Creswell were named to the All-Tournament Team. The Travelers also took home the prestigious Team Sportsmanship Award given by tournament officials and umpires.

Tough game where every break went against the Travelers. Brett Case blanked the Curve through four innings before running into trouble in the fifth.

That's when it all broke loose and it went from a 3-2 deficit to 8-2 as Case, Brett Davis, Chance Gerloff and Michael Crabtree all pitched before getting out of the inning.

Travelers fall behind 1-0 in the first before scoring three times off five Norcross errors in the third.

That was enough for Justin Ferguson, who pitched a complete game five-hitter.

Score by Innings
Lumberjacks - 101 000 0 - 2 Runs,  6 Hits, 3 Errors
Travelers   - 022 300 x - 7 Runs, 10 Hits, 0 Errors

Pitching
Brad Burns 3 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 1 K, 3 BB
Chance Gerloff (W) 3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 4 K, 0 BB
Brett Davis 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 K, 0 BB

Hitting
Brett Davis 2-4, 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R
Brett Case 1-4, 1 RBI, 2 R
Timmy Sullivan 1-3, 1 RBI
Garrett Cook 2-2, HR, 2 RBI
Rebel Ridling 1-3, 1 R
Michael Crabtree 1-3
Reece Creswell 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 R
Chance Gerloff 1-1, 1 RBI

There is definitely a reason the Chain is the 2-time defending World Series Champions.

Travelers were a bit shorthanded and saw an assortment of hard throwing lefthanders, all of which threw 90-plus.

Justin Ferguson allowed only one run over the first three innings but took the loss because the Travelers were attempting to save as much pitching as possible for bracket play beginning Thursday.

Chance Gerloff finished with two of the team's three hits in the game and Reece Creswell had the other with a double.

Despite the loss, the Travelers still earn the #3 seed in the 16-team bracket and will likely meet the Southern Illinois Bullets in the bracket play opener on Thursday. The schedule and official pairings for Thursday's contest will be announced Wednesday afternoon.

Score by Innings
Travelers   - 720 7 - 16 Runs, 13 Hits, 1 Error
Lumberjacks - 000 0 -  0 Runs,  2 Hits, 1 Error

Pitching
Brett Case (W) 4 IP, 2 H, 7 K, 2 BB

Top hitters
Michael Crabtree 3-3, 2 RBI, 2 R
Timmy Sullivan 2-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
Brett Davis 2-4, 1 RBI, 2 R
Garrett Cook 2-4, 2 RBI, 2 R
Kris Palesano 1-2, 2B, 2 RBI
Case, Ridling, Nichols all had 1 hit.