The Straughn Tigers’ junior varsity baseball team never gave up the fight, but fell to Brantley 8-5 on Friday in the first round of the Brantley Junior Varsity Baseball Tournament.

Brantley opened up the game with a triple and then the next batter came through with a single to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.

The Bulldogs looked like they might add to the early lead, but a diving catch by left fielder Caleb Meredith stopped the threat.

Not expecting Meredith to make the catch, the Bulldog base runner forgot to tag up and Meredith fired the ball into first for a double play to end the inning.

Brantley added to their lead in the top of the second inning off five base hits, a walk and hit batter.

At the end of two inning of play, Brantley was on top 7-0.

Brantley then added a run in the top of the fifth inning to take an 8-0 lead into the final half inning of play.

With their backs against the wall, the Tigers found life in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Brady Hamrac reached base on single and moved to second when Chandler Mitchell reached on a fielder’s choice.

Jeb Thomasson then drew a walk to load up the bases.

Bryant Harper followed with a two-run single to keep the Tigers in the hunt.

Adam Anderson then drove in two runs with a single, but the next Tiger batter popped out to the end the game.

“I was proud of the boys for not quitting today,” Tiger head coach Bailey Hansen said. “We have to get better at executing our plays.”