Despite falling behind early, the Blair baseball team never gave up in the Class B-6 district tournament game against Platteview on Thursday in Central City.
However, the Bears' comeback fell short as they lost to the Trojans 13-10.
Platteview took an early lead, plating six runs in the first inning.
“We kind of got behind the eight ball early,” Blair coach John Roan said.
Blair cut into the Trojans' lead with two runs in the first on a two-run homer from senior Cade Ulven, one in the second and two more in the third.
Freshman Bo Nielsen pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out five in relief.
But another six-run inning in the sixth and one run in the seventh put the Bears down by eight.
Blair tried to pull off a come-from-behind win, scoring five runs in the seventh inning before Platteview closed out the game on a pop up.
Senior Morgan Rump led the Bears, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored, while Ulven was 1-for-1 with three runs scored, two RBIs and two walks. Freshman Brady Brown was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Roan was proud of how his team battled back — something they've done all season.
“They just kept battling. They never laid down when they were down,” he said. “They kept fighting all the way through.”
While this was his first “official” season as head coach after last year's season was canceled due to COVID-19, Roan previously served as a reserve coach. He has been with this year's seniors for four years.
“I have a special attachment to those kids,” he said. “I really can't say enough good about them and their leadership.”
Though it wasn't how he wanted their season to end, Roan said he was proud of his team.
“At the end of the day, we were still very successful this season,” he said. “We did some really special things this year.”
