"It was a tough loss," said assistant coach Steve Edwards. "We had the lead and then we just let it slip away. It's tough when you just let it slip through your fingers like that."

Playing as the visitors, the Cats twice took leads of 2-0 and 5-1 after the top of the first and second innings respectively. Unfortunately, the Redskins took advantage of seven Trumann errors to keep recovering before finally taking the win.

Kyle Barker, who was pitching his last game as a Wildcat, opened the hitting with a single into the 4-5 hole. Blaike Jones followed Barker when he gained base on one of the few Pocahontas errors of the game.

TeJaye Moye then came up and bunted, sacrificing his two teammates around to second and third. Jacob Jones then completed the play when the singled into short center on the next play, scoring Barker and Jones for a 2-0 lead. The inning ended moments later, but at that moment the Cats felt good.

Pocahontas managed to score a run in the bottom of the first to close the gap, 2-1, putting the Wildcats back at the plate.

After an opening fly-out to at first, Craig Criss Got on first through an error at short stop then went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Preston Jones.

Back at the top of the order, Barker once again singled, slipping the ball past the shortstop. Quick play by the Redskins held Criss at third, though, as Blaike Jones once again came to bat.

Having hit two homers earlier in the year, Jones made it three when he smashed the ball across the right field fence for a two-out, three-run blast putting the score at 5-1 and sending the Trumann faithful into the stratosphere.

The inning ended with Moye flying out to left field, but at that moment, things looked bright for the Wildcats winning the game and advancing to the regional tournament this weekend.

Sadly, three errors in the bottom of the second inning helped the Skins to rally as they scored three runs of their own, once again cutting the lead to one again, 5-4.

For the next 3 ½ innings, neither the Wildcats nor the Redskins could make any headway, the score remaining, 5-4.

But in the bottom of the sixth, the Pocahontas bats came alive once again as the lead off batter doubled into left field then went to third on a sacrifice. Finally, the Cats sent him home on a fielder's choice to tie the game 5-5.

The next Skin batter dropped a fly between center and right field scooting around first landing on second just before a Blaike Jones tag. The runner then went home as the next batter singled into short left field scoring the runner and putting the Redskins up for the first time on the afternoon, 6-5.

Fortunately for the Wildcats, Barker fanned the final out of the inning before any further damage could be done. But, with the seventh and final inning coming up, though, the Cats had to respond to stay alive, and that they did.

After Jacob Jones flied out to the catcher, Ethan Heavener sent a shot into left field for a single. He then stole second and moments later went to third on a sacrifice by Austin Carter.

With two outs, Jarret Prince came to bat with a chance to tie the game and did just that as the drove Heavener home with a single to short right center. Trumann couldn't add to the lead, though, as Criss sent a promising shot into center, but it couldn't make the fence as the top of the seventh inning ended with game knotted, 6-all.

Trumann's comeback fell short in the bottom of the inning as the Skins managed to load the bases 1-2-3. Then with no outs, the fourth batter singled, but catcher Crew Parker managed make the tag before the third-base runner could reach home.

The thrill of that play was lost, however, as the next Skins batter ended the game with a shot into short right, scoring the runner at third for a 7-6 victory.

"That win would have put us into the regional tournament," concluded Edwards. "We hit the ball well in the game. In the last two games, in fact, we had 30 hits. And when you're hitting that well you usually win. But we just had too many errors. One led to another and it just kind of snowballed. We only gave up four earned runs.

"We'll be back next year, though. We're only losing four players and bring back a lot of pitching. We had a 13-14 record this year, but we'll be even more improved next year."

Blaike Jones led the hitting going 4 for 4 with two runs scored including a home run and 2 RBIs. Barker, Heavener and Prince were 2 for 4 with Barker scoring two runs and Heavener one. Moye, Carter and Jacob Jones were each 1 for 4.

Barker gave up four earned runs on eight hits and five walks while striking out two.

Trumann 13, Highland 5

Against Highland Thursday, the Wildcats had a game on their hands for the first two innings, but used a three-run third and a four run fourth to coast to a 13-5 first round victory.

The top of the first inning, however, things didn't look too good as the Rebels went out to a three-run lead before the Cats could end the inning.

Barker and Blaike Jones opened the scoring for Trumann with two runs in the bottom of the first to enter the second inning down by one 3-2.

Highland completed their scoring for the game with a two run second to take a 5-2 lead, but the Cats responded with a run from Carter cutting the advantage to two, 5-3 going into the third inning.

They didn't know it at the time, but the Rebels had finished heir scoring for the day while the Cats had just begun scoring 10 runs in the last 4 ½ innings for the win.

Prince pitched the win giving up five runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four. He was also 1 for 3 at the plate with one run scored.

Offensively, Heavener led the hitting with a 3 for 4 day while scoring three runs. Criss was also 3 for 4 with one run while Preston Jones was 2 for 3. Blaike Jones, Jacob Jones and Carter went 2 for 4 with two runs each. Moye and Barker finished 1 for 4 with Barker scoring once and Moye twice.