Tuesday night’s loss to visiting West Marion didn’t mean much for the Loyd Star Hornets but Coach Jared Britt said it gave his Hornets a chance to face another quality opponent as they prepare to open post-season play Thursday.

The Hornets, who fell to the Trojans 12-3, will now prepare to host Puckett (11-11) in a first round game at 6 p.m. Thursday. It’s a best-of-three series. Game Two is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday at Puckett, with the deciding Game Three, if necessary, back at Loyd Star Saturday at 4 p.m.

West Marion 12, Loyd Star 3 

The Hornets, exhausted still from Monday night’s three-hour win over St. Andrews, didn’t play up to their potential against West Marion.

Coach Britt didn’t want to make any excuses, however. “We’re trying to save our pitchers for the playoffs, but we just didn’t play well tonight,” he said.

Britt gave credit to West Marion sophomore hurler Colby Smith who picked up his first win of the season. Smith, a right-hander with a nasty curveball, allowed just five Hornet hits and fanned six.

West Marion jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a two-run homer from shortstop Jesse Pittman.

The Hornets got a run in their half of the first after Seth Farmer walked, advanced with two stolen bases, and scored on Peyton Flowers’ RBI fielder’s choice. Loyd Star picked up another run in the second when Konner Allen advanced after a single. Their final run came in the sixth when Brett Calcote scored after reaching base on a fielder’s choice.

West Marion added two in the third, and single runs in the fifth and sixth before putting it away with a five-run seventh.

Three pitchers saw action for Loyd Star. Coach Britt pulled starter Hadyn Brownlee after four batters in the fourth. Levi Redd, who survived a line-shot off his knee in the third inning, pitched into the fourth before giving way to Canon Travis. The three pitchers combined to allow 11 hits with four strikeouts and nine walks.

Loyd Star fell to 14-9 with the non-division loss. 3A West Marion improved to 14-7 with the win.