The 2000 baseball season came to a disappointing end for Cathedral Saturday as the Green Wave fell to Loyd Star 11-9 after leading 7-2 in the fifth inning.

&uot;It’s one of the more heartbreaking losses I’ve had,&uot;&160;said Cathedral coach Ken Beesley, whose team finishes the season at 12-10.

This year marks the first time the Green Wave has not made the playoffs since 1987.

&uot;Right now I’m not too sure what I’m going to do with myself,&uot; Beesley said. &uot;I’ll take a break for a couple of days and then we’ll get the football players in the weight room.&uot;

Cathedral moved up from Class 1A to 2A this school year. The Green Wave lost to Loyd Star 11-2 in the two teams’ first meeting and was the short end against St. Andrews in their first meetings, but defeated St. Andrews Tuesday to set up Saturday’s contest for a playoff spot.

&uot;We were in a lot tougher district than we’ve been in in the past. We dug ourselves a hole early by being swept. But the kids played hard and gave it all they could.&uot;

Charlie Norris pitched five innings before being relieved by Stephen Bush. Norris pitched with a split fingernail.

&uot;We tried to Super Glue it, but it was hurting him in the fifth,&uot; Beesley said. He’s a battler.&uot;

Cathedral scored two runs in the first as Jeremi Hardi, Ben Eidt and Key Smith all walked.

Bush then singled, on of four hits, including two home runs, for the senior.

Loyd Star got one run back in the first before Cathedral went up 3-0 as Josh Torrey doubled, Scott McLemore reached on an error, Hardy walked and Smith hit a sacrifice fly.

&uot;Those first two innings we had the opportunity to put them in the hole, but we only got three runs out of it.&uot;

Bush singled and scored on a base hit by McLemore in the third.

Lofton’s home run in the second cut Cathedral’s lead to 4-2.

In the fourth, Eidt was hit by a pitch, Edwards doubled and Bush connected with a 3-run home run for a 7-2 advantage.

Loyd Star sent nine men to the plate in the fifth, scoring five runs. A Brad Britt double and Trey Maddox single were the big blows.

Bush homered in the sixth after an Edwards single to put Cathedral back up 9-7.

But Chase Coley homered in the bottom of the inning and a triple by Ratcliffe with the bases loaded put the Hornets back up 11-9.

&uot;We just let it slip away,&uot;&160;Beesley said. &uot;It was the kind of two games. We were hot early and they got hot late.

&uot;I think St. Andrews and Loyd Star can be competitive in the playoffs,&uot; Beesley said. &uot;But we hung with them through the year except for that first game against Loyd Star.&uot;

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