What’s worse, losing a close game or getting blown out?

Chilton County’s baseball team could probably answer that question after experiencing both Friday. The Tigers lost to No. 7 Beauregard 13-3 and 5-4 and were eliminated in the first round of the state playoffs in their first appearance since 2003.

CCHS could manage only two hits in the first game, and they both came in the first inning. Ben Handley walked with one out, and Adam Minor followed with a home run.

Cameron Teel scored in the second on a Bradley Cleckler fielder’s choice, but that’s all the offense the visitors could muster.

CCHS trailed only 4-3 going into the bottom of the fifth inning but watched the hosts run away with the game. Chance Calloway struck out five in 6 1/3 innings pitched but was tagged with the loss.

The Tigers were much closer in the second game, but the result was the same.

With CCHS trailing 1-0, Tanner Powell reached on an error in the bottom of the second inning and Teel singled before T.J. Henley’s double plated both runners.

Beauregard built a 5-2 lead, but CCHS rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning. Derek Coker walked to lead off the inning, Henley singled, a Justin Veazey fielder’s choice scored Jalen Osborne, who was running for Coker, and a Bradley Cleckler sacrifice fly scored Henley to bring the Tigers within one run of the lead with two outs.

Both Handley and Minor singled, but the rally came up short.

Handley was the tough luck loser. He held Beauregard to seven hits in seven innings and struck out five.