The Pinecrest junior varsity summer league baseball team fought hard trying to end the season on a positive note at Scotland County Wednesday evening.

Evan Braswell doubled home two runs as the Patriots rallied for three to tie the game at 5-5 in the top of the fourth. But the Scots took the lead for good with a run in the bottom half on the way to handing the Pats a 10-6 loss.

Coach William Garner’s squad finished a season that included a six-game winning streak with a record of 6-5-1.

“The kids were marvelous and the parents were very supportive,” Garner said.

After a scoreless top of the first, Patriot starting pitcher Tommy Delaunay retired the Scots in order in the bottom half. Logan Myers then started a two-run top of the second with a single and stole second. He went on to score on a bunt hit by Joe Lewis. Later Lewis came around to score on the first of two singles by Ayinde McKnight.

The lead was short lived. The Scots took advantage of two Patriot errors to score four unearned runs in the bottom of the second. They made it 5-2 in the third, leading up to the Patriot rally.

Singles by Delaunay, Logan Crisp and Jay Thomas loaded the bases in the top of the fourth. Martin Zigovsky squeezed in a run with a bunt before Braswell came through with his game-tying hit.

The Scots went back on top with a run in the bottom of the fourth and then tacked on three more in the fifth and one in the sixth. The Patriots scored their final run in the top of the seventh.

With a roster of 20 players, Garner was pleased to have an average of 16 available per game during a time when family vacations and other commitments often lead to absences. Most jayvee home games were limited to four innings because the school system would not allow the lights to be turned on for summer ball and a varsity game also had to be fit in.

“It was tough to get all the kids two at bats,” said Garner, who has coached all age groups including adults. “I think this was the most fun coaching experience I have had.