In what could only be described as one of the most entertaining 2-1 baseball games in recent Indian Land baseball history, the Warriors bowed out of the district playoffs after suffering a loss to Christ Church of Greenville in 11 innings.

"Both teams played their hearts out between these lines," said Indian Land head coach Kevin Durham. "I couldn't be more proud of these young men right now."

Getting to this game proved a much easier task as the Warriors pelted Fox Creek 11-1 to avenge an earlier loss in the playoffs.

Led by junior Chad Carlton's 3-3 night with five RBIs and the once again stellar pitching of sophomore Tyler Watkins, the Warriors proved too much for the Predators the second time around.

"We saved Tyler's arm in the Ware Shoals game by limiting his innings for this specific reason" Durham said. "He's throwing so well right now that we want to use him whenever we can."

Kevin Lawson, Dillon Creed, and Alex Matzeit had two hits apiece. Also joining the hit parade were Alex Rodriguez and Tyler Watkins with one apiece.

The Warriors jumped ahead with six runs in the first two innings and coasted to the easy victory. Pulling Watkins once again with a comfortable lead and putting in sophomore Daniel Thomas didn't slow down the Warriors at all. Thomas finished the mercy rule shortened game to earn the win and get the Warriors into the District IV championship game against Christ Church. They would have to win both games of a double header against them to advance to the Upper State tournament.

Once again entrusting the mound to Watkins against Christ Church was the strategy of Durham and once again Watkins responded. He pitched seven innings of four-hit ball and was aided by six stellar defensive plays from outfielders Creed and Thomas and infielder Chad Carlton.

The one run scored was due to an error, keeping his streak alive of three games without allowing an earned run. Christ Church's senior hurler Steven Young was even more amazing as he held the Warrior bats to one run on eight hits in 10 innings.

In the bottom of the 11th, Cavalier catcher Ricky Davis led off with a single through the middle off of Matzeit, who relieved Watkins in the eighth.

Graham Mullikin's sacrifice attempt netted him a base hit as he was able to push the ball past the pitcher. With two outs and runners on second and third, the Warriors intentionally walked Evans to pitch to Will Merline, who had struck out four times. Merline promptly drilled a single between short and third to plate Davis with the winning run and the celebration was on.

"This was a game that you hate to lose, but the three seniors that walked off this field for the final time tonight can hold their heads high," Durham said.