May River couldn’t dig out of an early hole in an 8-3 loss to visiting Gilbert in the Class 3A district playoffs Thursday.
Cooper George was 3-for-3 and Josh Patterson drove in two runs, but the Sharks managed only six hits – all singles – and couldn’t recover after falling behind 6-0 after three innings.
Nick Bass took the loss, allowing six runs (five earned) and six hits over 2 2/3 innings.
The Sharks (19-5) will host Dillon in an elimination game at 3:30 p.m. Saturday with the winner needing to defeat Gilbert twice Monday to win the district title.