Out again. Sigh. Sure, even cry.

For the third straight time the Todd Beamer baseball team made it to but not out of the West Central District playoffs. This time the beating came from Kentwood by a 7-6 score on a seventh inning come-from-behind rally at Heidelberg Park in Tacoma.

A lot took this loss hard, including coach Jerry Peterson.

"I'm not taking this very well right now," said Peterson, obviously choked up over this third state denial.

The year before this the Titans beat Bellarmine, 5-2, then lost to South Kitsap, 1-0. The year before that Kentlake provided the Titans' state denial by a 5-3 score.

"It's disappointing," said Titans ace pitcher Matt Hart, who threw a good game. A couple unearned runs, unfortunately from fielding errors in a three-run Kentwood third, provided the difference in this one. "Three times never making it to state."

Hart sighed, one of the ones who did not have eyes stained with tears.

"We played hard, no regrets really," he said.

He really did not to single himself out either, but he did.

"We swang the bats well," said Hart, adding, "Pitching and defense has been good all year and it let us down today."

To the good stuff, the Titans put up an early 2-0 lead in the top of the third as Nate Ware singled, Cole Bixenman doubled and Bian Corliss hit a 2-RBI shot that did the damage after that.

Then Kentwood rifled back. The Conks put up a three-spot in the bottom of the third to lead, 3-2.

But the Titans unloaded for four runs in the top of the fifth.

Bixenman drew a walk to begin the big Titans fifth, Corliss sacrificed Bixenman to second and then Dustin Martin's blast to the corner in the outfield made it 4-3. Henry Apigo singled next before, with runners at second and third, Jared Dearinger hit the trigger, smacking the ball for 2-RBI.

Bang! The Titans were up, 6-3, and their ace, Hart, was on the hill. The fielding errors that nearly suffocated them in the third seemed all but behind them.

"I had a good feeling," said Bixenman, headed to Linfield to play baseball and football on scholarship, academic and athletic grants. "I thought we were going to pull through."

All the Titans student and family, friends, mom, dad, fans must have thought that too. Why not? Three run lead, only a couple innings to go. But no, the Conks put up one run in the bottom of the fifth to make it 6-4.

But then Hart took out the side, bang, bang, bang, in the Conks sixth, three up, three down.

The Titans had a two-run lead going into the seventh, but that was the problem. The seventh inning last at-bats still had to be taken by the Conks. And did they ever not choke in their last chance. The first two batters doubled and RBI-tripled to make it 6-5. The next hitter singled to tie things up, 6-6. Then, after a new pitcher allowed that tying run, the winning run was hit next and this game and season were over for the Titans.

"I felt good," said Hart, who pitched six and one-third innings. "Got to give it to them. I fell behind in the count and you can't do that against good teams."

Peterson was more able to compose thoughts a few minutes after the game.

"Tough loss," said Peterson. "We just haven't quite got over the hump in districts.

We battled. The kids gave great efforts. The last inning, well, that's baseball. They are a great bunch of kids. The seniors played every game, came to every practice, showed great leadership and were great examples for our younger players for the future."

For a short while, right after the game, the Titans players like Bixenman were rubbing out the tears. Peterson was probably telling them about the mistakes they made and letting them know that they didn't do the right things and so they are not going the right direction -- to state. Right? Wrong.

What did coach Peterson say right after the game when you gathered all together?

"Not much he can say. It wasn't even about the game. I twas about how much fun we had this year. He was thanking everyone."

And now the whole story of all the crying is known. Another great season, Titans.