Bainbridge baseball concluded their season on Friday after back-to-back losses to Starr’s Mill in the first round of the state playoffs in Fayetteville. Bainbridge lost the first game 16-1 and dropped the second game 9-4.

Bainbridge jumped out to a one run lead in the top of the first in game one, but Starr’s Mill quickly snuffed out any Bainbridge offense after that run.

Bainbridge surrendered two runs in the bottom of the second, then gave up seven runs in the second inning.

Bainbridge was unable to stop the bleeding in game one. Starr’s Mill kept their foot on the gas scoring two more runs in the third, and then five more in the fourth to end the game with innings to spare.

Will Kelley started the game on the mound for the Bearcats, but Bainbridge’s pitching rotation had to show their depth in the game. Cayden Sconyers made an appearance on the mound as well as Kaleb Varnum in the four-inning game.

Bainbridge sought to avenge their run-rule game in game two, but Starr’s Mill continued to be unstoppable at the plate. At the end of the first inning of game two, Bainbridge was down 5-1.

Bearcat pitching began to get in a rhythm in game two after the first inning. Pitcher Nick Barber started on the mound and settled down after the first inning and kept Starr’s Mill off the board in the second inning.

Bainbridge gave up one run in the third inning, but scored one themselves to set the score at 6-2 going into the fourth.

In the fifth inning, it seemed like Starr’s Mill was about to pull away again.

The number one seed scored two runs with a runner in scoring position with no outs on the board.

Bainbridge coach Brian McCorkle decided to make a change on the mound and brought in Dalton Harrell.

Harrell gave up one more run, then got the Bearcats out of a bad situation.

The Bearcats scored two more runs in the bottom of the seventh to end the game 9-4.

“We got beat by a ball club that is ranked number one in the state,” said coach McCorkle. “Our guys fought and competed hard but we came up short. They’re ranked number one for a reason and they outplayed us.”

The baseball season was an up and down roller coaster, but for the senior class it was a memorable one. Over the past two seasons, they helped Bainbridge go to two state playoffs in a row.

“I’m really proud of these guys,” said McCorkle. “They’ve won 38 games in two seasons and went the state playoffs two straight seasons.”

The Bearcats finished the season 17-14.