The No. 14 seed Doyline Panthers were three outs away from knocking off No. 3 Family Community in the second round of the non-select Class B playoffs Saturday afternoon at the Sterlington Sports Complex.
Doyline led 5-3 going into the bottom of the seventh. But the Warriors tied it on a two-RBI double with one out.
The Panthers put two runners on in the top of the eighth but couldn’t get a run.
Family Community then won it 6-5 on an RBI-single by Kyler Roberts with two outs in the bottom of the inning.
It was the second year in a row that Doyline’s season ended in heartbreaking fashion against high seed. Last year, the Panthers lost to eventual champion Quitman 4-3 in the second round.
Doyline finished 13-14. The game brought an end to the outstanding high school career of Doyline pitcher Noah Spears, who is bound for Northwestern State.
Spears scattered eight hits, struck out eight and walked three. Only three runs against him were earned.
Spears’ two-RBI double with two outs in the top of the seventh gave the Panthers the 5-3 lead.
Jonas Florence had a big game, going 3-for-3 with a double. James Dodge and Zack Moseley had singles.
The game resumed Saturday with Doyline up 1-0 in the bottom of the second after being suspended Friday because of inclement weather.
Family Community took the lead with two runs in the bottom of third. The Warriors went up 3-1 in the fourth.
Doyline tied it with two in the top of the sixth. Dodge led off with a single. Florence was intentionally walked with one out.
Zach Normand hit a ground ball and reached on an error. Dodge scored and Florence moved to third. Dario Galvez’s sacrifice bunt scored Florence with the tying run.
The Panthers then took the lead in the seventh. Leadoff batter CoopervHayes was hit by a pitch. Moseley followed with a single. Ayden Moreno-Taule’s sacrifice bunt moved the runners up a base. That set the stage for Spears’ double.