The Minden Crimson Tide were confident heading into their first round matchup with the North DeSoto Griffins after sweeping a two-game series during district play earlier this season.
However, the Griffins turned the tables on the Tide this time around, taking control of Tuesday’s game and rolling to an 11-1 win over Minden.
The loss brings Minden’s season to a close. The Tide finish with a record of 14-12 as runner-up in district 1-4A.
The loss will be difficult to swallow for Minden’s 10 seniors, a group that gave phenomenal effort night in and night out.
“When you have that many seniors it’s tough to lose them all in one year,” Minden head coach Dean Francis said. “These kids have been together a long time and I hate they had to go out that way. It’s a special group, like a family.”
The Tide took an early lead in the top of the first inning, going up 1-0.
North DeSoto responded with three runs in their own half of the first, followed by a five-run second inning, two-run third and the game’s winning run in the fourth.
Senior Trace Francis was the losing pitcher for Minden, allowing 10 hits before giving way to Gavin Smith for the final two innings. Smith gave up one hit and struck out one batter in relief.
Justin McCready drove in the lone run for the Tide with a single. Matt Eskew, Gunner Stephens and Cade Coleman also had singles for Minden.
“You keep telling kids one day this moment will be here,” Francis said. “After the game it showed, the emotions and all those things come out when it’s finally over, but this group left a good impression on the younger kids. We played hard, it was just North DeSoto’s night.”