Ooltewah coach Brian Hitchcox, left, gives a fist bump to designated hitter Brody Binder after he reached third base against Warren County Monday in a Region 3-AAA playoff game.Ooltewah waited out the rain and played through the fog in its Region 3-AAA baseball game Monday.
The Owls, though, could not play through a series of untimely miscues — mental and physical — and paid the season-ending price in a nine-inning, 4-3 loss to visiting Warren County, the District 6-AAA runner-up.
The Pioneers (21-17) will host Walker Valley for the region championship on Wednesday. Unlike Monday’s game, both teams Wednesday will advance to Friday’s sectionals, the winner staying at home and the loser traveling with state championship berths on the line.
“I’m disappointed with the way we played. We left a small village on base. We were not mentally tough at key moments,” said Ooltewah coach Brian Hitchcox, whose club finished the year with a 24-11 record and the District 5-AAA championship.
The Owls finished with a bitter taste after getting into the postseason for the first time since 2009 when they lost to Cleveland in the region final. Their last sectional and state tournament trips were in 2006.