By Brad Greer
The South Panola baseball team saw its season come to an end Saturday afternoon with a hard-fought 5-3 loss in No.1 ranked Northwest Rankin.

The Tigers (16-12), started the three-team double elimination tournament Thursday night by getting pounded 16-3 by Southaven. Ryan Maxwell homered in the game as the Tigers could muster only three hits.

Following Southaven’s loss to Northwest Rankin in the winners bracket game, South Panola eliminated the Chargers Friday night 7-0 behind the oustanding pitching of David Renfroe and hitting of Tyler Benson.

Renfroe struck out 13 while tossing a one-hitter.

Benson meanwhile blasted a pair of home runs in the game.

The Tigers then faced an uphill battle Saturday as they had to defeat Northwest Rankin twice on their home field to advance in the playoffs. South Panola took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first only to see the Cougars plate two runs in the second and third innings and three more in the fourth for a 5-1 lead.

The Tigers scored a pair of runs in the top of the fifth but could not get any closer.
Benson had two hits in the game including his third home run of the tournament while Maxwell added a double.