After a rocky start and a sweet comeback, the Washington-Wilkes Tigers baseball team suffered a disappointing loss at the hands of Region 8-A champion Prince Avenue Christian in the first round of state playoffs last weekend.

It was a three-game series that began on Friday as the Tigers took a 0-10 pounding in the first game of a doubleheader. But behind the pitching of ace Demont Gresham, W-W bounced back in the second game with a win to force the third game on Saturday.

In that game, the Tigers played hard throughout the game and outhit Prince Avenue 8-6 but a 3-run homer by the PA shortstop, Wayne Satterfield, was more than the Tigers could overcome. The shot proved to be the difference in the game and PA went on to win 6-4. Clete Wilson suffered the loss though he pitched well allowing four earned runs on five hits.

"Clete did a great job of keeping us in the game against a high powered offense," head coach Rob Jackson said. "His only mistake was the homerun pitch to the shortstop which was hit to right center field."

Jackson continued, saying, "I was proud of how the team responded after losing the first game 10-0. We displayed a lot of character and determination to tie the series and force a game three. Our defense played well and we hit several line drives with runners on base that were caught. If one or two gets through it is a different outcome."

Leading hitters in game three were Kevin Stasyshyn, 2-for-3 with 2 rbi; Drew Wilson, 2-for-2; and Mark Tench, 1-for-2 with a sac bunt.

The 0-10 loss in game one was the first time the Tigers had been shutout all year. Stasyshyn got the start on the mound but, according to Jackson, didn't get much help from the defense which committed three errors.

That same athlete that hit the game three homer, Satterfield, was on the mound for PA and shut the Tigers down striking out nine batters in five innings while allowing only two hits (singles by Clete Wilson and Blake Davis).

In game two, Gresham was dominating as he went the distance and allowed only four runs (three earned) while striking out nine and giving up only four hits.

The tigers took the lead in the first inning after a leadoff walk to Caleb Saggus. Saggus used his speed to steal second base and Gresham drove him in on a single to left field. The Tigers did most of their damage in the second inning, scoring seven runs on four hits, two walks, an one error by PA.

Leading hitters for the Tigers were Saggus 1-for-3 with two rbi; Gresham, 3-for-3 with an rbi; Clete Wilson, 2-for-4 with two rbi;

Jonathon Nicholson 1-for-2 with two rbi; Thorne Brown, 1-for-3; and Stasyshyn, 1-for-2 with a stolen base.

The final score of game two was 9-4.

"I want to thank all of the fans that came out to support the tigers," Jackson commented. "The crowd was tremendous and the kids and coaches really appreciate their support during the season and the playoffs."

The Tigers will be loosing three seniors this year - Thorne Brown, Kevin Stasyshyn, and Blake Davis - Jackson reported. "Our senior class is not large in number but they will be hard to replace in what they brought to the team. Blake, Thorne, and Kevin were excellent leaders who displayed a positive attitude and work ethic," he said.