Cruel and unusual punishment.

That might be the best way to describe Sunday's double-dip in Benton for the Carmi Pony League (13-14-year-old) baseball team.

Following a 3-2 win over Quincy Friday evening, the White Countians entered Sunday's action at the PONY double-elimination region tournament with legitimate hopes of becoming the first Carmi baseball team to win a region tourney and advance to the zone level, the third rung in PONY's postseason format.  However, five hours and two agonizing losses later, the Carmians had finished their season with a 26-8 mark.