The Austin Blue Sox put forth their best SpamTown Challenge effort in team history, but they came one win short of the championship after they lost the title game 8-6 to the Saint Paul Capitals in Marcusen Park Sunday.

Still, the Blue Sox (7-3 overall), who beat Westmont, Ill. 4-3 in the semifinals, have plenty to be pleased about after winning three games in four days against some tough competition.

“It’s been great to play on a Sunday at SpamTown for the first time,” said Kyal Williams, an Austalian native and former Riverland player who hit three homers and had one pitching win for the Blue Sox over the weekend. “It’s an improvement and it’s a great bunch of guys. Hopefully we can bring that on to the state tournament.”

Austin showed resilience in the title game as it scored twice in the top of the fifth to get within 8-6. Nestor Jiminez and Jason Stoulil each singled in runs with two outs in the frame.

The Blue Sox also had runners on first and second with one out in the sixth, but they couldn’t score any more runs.

“I think a lot of people look at us at underdogs, and this was a good weekend,” Blue Sox manager Brandon Rector said. “A lot of these guys are back for their second year and we’re getting some good production out of them. Aussie [Williams] is hitting the ball well and Brady Banse pitched excellent. We’re kind of coming together.

For Williams, it was nice for him to team up with his former teammate Banse and he was also to get to know some more recent RCC players who make up the Blue Sox roster.

“It’s fun to be a part of it and to relive your glory days as a young guy,” Williams said. “It’s fun to come back and play with the guys.”

Blue Sox 4, Westmont 3

The Blue Sox advanced to the title game with a big rally to beat Westmont Ill. 4-3.

Austin trailed 3-0 going into the bottom of the fourth when it started the inning with four straight hits and it scored four runs in the frame to take the lead for good. Jason Stoulil knocked in the tying run with a sacrifice fly and Quinn Yocom knocked in the go-ahead run on a ground-out.

Westmont 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 — 3 8 0

Blue Sox 0 0 0 4 0 0 X — 4 10 1

Blue Sox pitching: Kyal Williams (W) 7 IP, 8 H, 1 BB, 3 ER, 6 K

Blue Sox hitting: Ricky Marinez, 2-for-4; Quinn Yocom, 0-for-2, RBI, 2 BBs; Williams, 1-for-2, BB; Mark Harber, 1-for-3, R; Miguel Castro, 1-for-3, R; Brady Banse, 2-for-3, R; Brandon Rector, 2-for-2, RBI, R; Nestor Jimenez, 1-for-2, RBI, HBP; Jason Stoulil, 0-for-1, RBI; Clay Eustice, 0-for-1

Blue Sox 0 0 2 2 2 0 0 – 6 10 0

Capitals 0 2 3 3 0 0 X – 8 11 1

Blue Sox pitching: Jon Mittag (L) 3 IP, 7 H, 2 BB, 5 ER

Blue Sox hitting: Marinez, 1-for-3, R, BB; Yocom, 1-for-4, RBI, R; Williams, 2-for-4, RBI; Harber, 2-for-3, double, RBI, R, BB; Eustice, 0-for-4; Rector, 0-for-3, BB; Jimenez, 3-for-4, RBI; Jose Rosario, 1-for-3, HBP; Stoulil, 1-for-4, RBI; Castro, 2 R