With a win over host Twin Falls on Saturday, the Pocatello Runnin’ Rebels would earn a berth in next week’s “AA” American Legion State Tournament.

    Unfortunately for Pocatello it wasn’t meant to be as the Cowboys earned the district’s second state tournament berth with an 15-11 win.

    “It was not our day and it was not our tournament,” Runnin’ Rebels head coach Vinnie Benavidez said. “We tried hard and it just did not work out for us.”

    Pocatello fell behind early, but rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh to take an 11-10 lead.

    But the pitching could not hold up as Twin Falls posted five runs in the bottom of the inning to earn the victory.

    “My heart hurts for those kids,” Benavidez said. “It was an honor for me to coach those kids. A lot of them have a bright future in baseball, but they also have a bright future in life.”

    Tanner Nielson and Tate Harding each had two hits for Pocatello.

    The Runnin’ Rebels finished the season with a record of 31-9.