Calhoun City’s baseball season came to an end Friday night at Hatley with a 12-6 loss in the deciding game three.
Jordan England is greeted at home plate after hitting a 2-run home run in the first inning.
Hatley, who lost the series’ opener at home before rebounding to win game two at Calhoun City and the series clincher at home, will advance to face Eupora in the 2A North Half Semifinals.
“We had them beat and just let them off the hook,” Calhoun City Coach Josh Miller said.
Jordan England gave the Wildcats the early momentum when he followed a Kemon Hall single with a two-run home run over the left field fence to give ‘City a 2-0 first inning lead.
Hatley cut the lead in half in the bottom of the first on one hit and evened the score in the second taking advantage of two Wildcat errors.
The game remained tied until the fourth when Lewis Lettieri homered for the Tigers igniting an 8-run inning to give Hatley a commanding 10-2 lead entering the fifth.
Jaalen Thomas entered the game in relief of starter Jace Leachman in the middle of the fifth. Jo Gray and McGreger Lee would also pitch for Calhoun City before the night was over.
After singles by Thomas, Hall and Gray loaded the bases, England drove home two runs with a single and Chakel Gates doubled home two more to pull ‘City within 10-6.
Hatley would add a run in both the fifth and sixth to stretch their lead to 12-6.
“This series will sting for a while,” Miller said. “Our kids battled all year and overall had a really good season. I’m very proud of this team.”