SLIPPERY ROCK - It was the same old story. The set was different, the nemesis changed, but the ending was all too familiar.

It was like a sequel out of control.

When the final credits rolled on the Slippery Rock High School baseball season Wednesday afternoon, the Rockets stared at a 7-3 loss to Sharon.

Another one had gotten away.

"The same sort of thing happened to us that has happened all season," said Slippery Rock coach Cory Hake.

It was the same script for starting pitcher Josh Cress, who maneuvered well through five innings, staking the Rockets to a 3-2 lead, but faltered in the sixth.

Sharon (9-8 overall and in the Mercer County Athletic Conference) scored three times in the sixth inning as Zach Williams got things going with a leadoff double and scored on Phil Williamson's triple. Both hits went to right field as the Tigers finally were patient with Cress.

"I have a lot of lively bats," said Sharon coach Bill Dorfi. "They like poking at the ball."

They also liked going after the first pitch. Cress needed very little pitches to get through the first five innings.

But Sharon started to be more patient at the plate in later innings as its hitters began to time the slow, sweeping curveballs Cress was offering them.

"We held them to three runs through five innings, but they were successful in the sixth because they started hitting the ball the other way," Hake said.

Sean Ray tied the game in the bottom of the third inning with a two-run home run to left. He doubled in his first at-bat.

Ray was stellar this season for the Rockets. He started the season playing shortstop, but moved to third base as Hake shuffled things up in midseason.

"He's a natural at third base," Hake said.

When Slippery Rock looks back at this season, it will lament about a handful of games.

"I think you could probably look at five games, all of which were one-run games in the sixth inning (that we lost)," Hake said.

But the Rockets have a young cast. The team will lose only four seniors, Ross Ketzel, Bill Dillon, Drew Bowland and Lee Brunst.

The entire pitching staff will return with the soon-to-be junior Cress leading the way.

"When he got hit a little bit, I went out there and asked him, 'What do you want to do?'" Hake said. "He told me he wanted to get out of the inning. He wants the ball and when you have a guy like that, you have to be satisfied."

Sharon is not satisfied. But the Tigers need a Hollywood-type ending to reach the playoffs.

Despite the win, Sharon needs a Wilmington win over Grove City and a Hickory win over Reynolds to force a three-way tie for the third and final playoff spot coming out of the MCAC.

Even then, the Tigers may be out in the cold.

"This does nothing for our playoff hopes," Dorfi said. "It's a very long shot. Our only hope is an at-large bid."

But that appears unlikely. There may be no sequel for the Tigers.

"I just wish we could play more games," Dorfi said.

There will be plenty more games in the future for the Rockets' young team.

"We certainly have some things to build on," Hake said.

Stay tuned.

Sharon 101 013 1 - 7 11 3

Slippery Rock 002 100 0 - 3 5 0

WP:

Scott Snyderwine (3 IP) 0 strikeouts, 3 walks.

LP:

Josh Cress (6 IP) 3 strikeouts, 3 walks

Sharon (9-8, 9-8):

Drew Paoletta 2-1B, RBI; Chris Norris 2-1B; Zach Williams 2B, 1B, RBI; Phil Williamson 2-1B, 3B, 3-RBI; Craig Songer 1B, RBI; Luke Smith HR, RBI

Slippery Rock (7-12, 7-10):

Sean Ray 2B, HR, 2-RBI; Mark White 2B; Ross Ketzel 1B; Bill Dillon 1B