Despite the 7-3 defeat to the runners-up from the Northwest 1A Conference, the Elks don't have much to hang their heads about.
Coming into the season the Elks where projected to finish in the lower half of the conference. But they ended up fourth overall in the league and won a first-round state playoff contest last Friday, something the program hasn't done in several years.
"This was a suprisingly good season, and we gained a lot of respect this season." Elkin coach Steve Martin said at game's end.
The 2-0 playoff victory last week at South Stanly sent Elkin to play conference rival South Stokes, a team which beat them twice in the regular season.
The Elks were the first to get on the board in the second inning on a Travis Myers solo homerun.
The game turned into a pitchers' duel until the bottom of the fifth inning when South's Patrick Spaugh barely got a ground ball passed Travis Myers at third base, which scored the tying run. Tyler Kloc then came up and hit a two-run homer to give the Sauras the advantage going into the sixth inning.
But the Elks refused to lay down. After getting runners on second and third, Elkin catcher Matt Carter came up and hit a ground ball that the Sauras' first baseman had a hard time fielding, tying the contest 3-3.
Myers then set the Sauras down in the bottom of the inning to go into the seventh still tied.
The Elks got two runners on with David Tilley up. Tilley then ripped a line drive to right field, but his ball went right to the fielder, who made the other to end the inning.
The Sauras then loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning and end the game with one swing of the bat. The Sauras will play Science & Math for the district title.
"We played a heck of a ball game, and Brian and Travis really pitched good tonight," coach Martin said. "There is nothing to hang our heads about."
Myers finished 1-for-3 for the Elks. Kyle Whitman was 2-for-3 with two singles. Elkin's season ends with a 10-13 record. South Stokes improved to 20-5.
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