One season removed from their appearances in the Lower State championship games, the Carolina Forest and Myrtle Beach High baseball teams failed to make the playoffs in 2012.
Both the Panthers and Seahawks played their regular-season finales over the weekend, ending seasons that began with high hopes of taking the next step to the state title games.
Carolina Forest, which lost to Class AAAA state champion Sumter in last year’s Lower State Final, made a statement in its final game Friday night, defeating region rival Conway 5-1.
But the Tigers got the last laugh, earning the No. 2 seed in Region VI-AAAA. They open the playoffs next week.
Myrtle Beach, which lost to state champion St. James in last year’s Class AAA Lower State Final, also went out a losing note this season with Saturday’s 12-11 loss at North Myrtle Beach.
The Seahawks led 11-10 in the sixth inning when rain delayed the game, but the skies dried and the Chiefs got hot to rally for the game-tying and game-winning runs in walk-off fashion.
The Chiefs earned the No. 3 seed in Region VIII-AAA and also open postseason play next week.
