Vidalia — William Handjis pitched a solid game for the Vidalia High School Vikings Monday, but one slip up in the top of the sixth inning cost the Vikings the game.

Vidalia lost 3-1 to Buckeye High School at the Concordia Parish Recreational District 3 Complex after being tied 1-1 halfway through the game.

“We knew it would be a hard game, we played them to a 2-1 game in ten innings (last time), so we wanted to get one when they came here,” Vidalia head coach Kale Davis said.

Buckeye’s Blake Buller stepped to the plate with Reese Ryland on second base and hit a home run over the left fence to go ahead 3-1 in the sixth inning.

It seemed like Vidalia’s defense started to come undone at that moment as two more batters got a hit and one was walked to load the bases in the top of sixth.

But Vidalia’s Tyler Sandifer made a diving catch in the outfield, which saved the Vikings from digging a deeper hole to climb out of.

The Vikings had a chance to even the score in the bottom of the seventh inning, as they tightened up their defense to keep the score 3-1 in the top of the final inning.

But Landon Seyfarth struck out to end the game 3-1.

“We came up short,” Davis said. “We didn’t get hits when we needed. Handjis pitched a solid game on the mound, we just have to find a way to generate some runs.”

Handjis pitched seven innings with four strikeouts. Ethan Roberts was the winning pitcher for Buckeye . He pitched seven innings with eight strikeouts and allowed just one hit.

Davis said he put the loss behind him, and his players must keep their heads up as they turn around and play Avoyelles High School at 5 p.m. today.

“We still got a lot to play for,” Davis said. “We’re trying to fight our way into the playoffs. (The players) are going to be alright, they’re going to bounce back and play well (today).”