The Thorsby Rebels fell one run shy of the state baseball semifinals Saturday, as they were eclipsed by the Lexington Golden Bears 8-7 in nine innings.

It was the deciding Game 3 of a quarterfinal series played at Lexington, in Lauderdale County. The Rebels won the first game Friday 4-2, and the Bears took the second game 9-4.

Thorsby coach Ab Argent said Saturday’s game was “a classic. It was great, great high school baseball.”

Thorsby went up 1-0 in the first, but Lexington answered quickly with two runs. The third inning was big for the Rebels as they went up 7-2, but Lexington tied it up in the bottom of the third.

No one would score again until the bottom of the ninth.

Thorsby junior Shane Beam pitched the entire nine innings.

“He got stronger as the game went on, and he grew up some out there on the mound for us,” Argent said.

Argent said it was one of those games where the teams were so evenly matched that you hated to see anyone lose.

“Our kids competed hard and just came up a little short. I was pleased with the effort. I thought they represented their school and county well,” he said.

The Rebels end their 2010 season with a record of 30-6.