A chance for Dawson County's baseball team to reach the Region 8-AA playoffs is over. The Tigers were swept by Rabun County last week, which moved the team to the No. 5-spot, essentially eliminating them from the playoffs.

The Tigers lost 18-5, 4-2 and 7-0 to the Wildcats. With the three wins Rabun, 12-8, moved to the No. 2 spot in the region tournament.

The only thing left for coach Jimmy Pruett's team is to play a host of consolation games.

The first game was to be played yesterday against Jackson County at home. Scores were unavailable at press time.

Dawson's next game could be played today at East Hall.

It was a year in which injuries and inexperience took their toll on the Tigers.

Sophomore Logan Burt was lost early in the season to injury.

The last two weeks saw two more pitchers go down for Dawson County leaving the team shorthanded on the mound.

"This year we have had several injuries," Pruett said. "Right now we only have two pitchers that can throw.

"We have only one player, Colton Chester at catcher, who played that position last season. The rest of the players have been moved around with very little experience. The guys are playing hard, but we just can't seem to catch a break," he added.

On April 10, the Tigers held a 5-4 lead going into the sixth inning, but an error led to Rabun County scoring nine runs in the inning to take a 13-5 advantage.

The Wildcats tacked on five more runs in the seventh inning to come away with the 18-5 win in Dawsonville.

Rabun County pounded out 13 hits to Dawson's six in the contest.

Levi Whitmire led Dawson at the plate. He went 3 for 4 with an RBI and two stolen bases.

Dawson County traveled to Rabun County on Friday for a doubleheader against the Wildcats.

The Tigers only needed to win one game to be in the playoffs, but dropped both games to an inspired Rabun team.

Tyler Thurmond pitched superb in the first game. Thurmond couldn't overcome three, first inning runs to get the 4-2 loss.

Thurmond ended up with 10 strikeouts, while giving up only seven hits.

On offense, Dawson struggled the entire day.

In game one the team managed only three hits, while in game two the Tigers were hitless in a 7-0 loss.

Picking up the lone three hits for Dawson were David Chester, Harley Pruitt and Thurmond.

Pruett's troops got off to a bad start in game two after allowing five, first inning runs.

The Tigers never recovered.

The team is currently 8-10 overall and finished 6-9 in Region 8A-AA play.

Banks County captured the subregion championship.