There is no more painful way to end a season than with a close loss.
On the other hand, the very young Reeths-Puffer baseball team bowed out of the postseason after playing a tight, competitive game all the way to the end.
The Rockets lost 3-1 to Greenville on Saturday in the semifinal round of the Division 1 district tournament at R-P’s Pete Sodini Field.
Reeths-Puffer finished the season with a 10-17-1 record.
R-P pitcher Brendan Guikema. Photo/Joe Lane
The game was close from start to finish. Each team scored one run in the first inning, then Greenville added a single run in the third and sixth innings.
The Rockets got a strong pitching performance junior Brendan Guikema, who started and went 5 2/3 innings, giving up three runs and six hits with nine strikeouts and no walks.
Freshman Tyler Sykes closed the game out on the mound, striking out one with no walks.
Guikema went 2-for-2 at the plate for R-P and knocked in the one run. Sophomore Paul Smith also had two hits.
The Rockets stole five bases in the game, with two coming from junior Connor McManus.
R-P catcher Jack Yonkman. Photo/Joe Lane
Considering the makeup of the roster, Reeths-Puffer had a pretty respectable season, reaching double-digit victories and beating several good teams.
Most of the roster was comprised of freshmen and sophomores – many of whom probably would have played junior varsity this season – due to the low number of juniors and seniors.
R-P head coach Butch Attig did not dwell on the loss. He is already thinking about next season, and what all the young players can do to improve by then.
“Some underclassmen received some early varsity playing time this year,” the coach said. “I think and hope they realize the work begins now to compete at that level, and hopefully they are motivated to get in the weight room and take those extra reps of ground balls and swings in the cage.
“Working at the craft you love should not be work. Effort equals results.”