For the better part of six innings Saturday, the Hays Rebels seemed to have the state-ranked New Braunfels Canyon Cougarettes on the ropes.

But a few costly mistakes, which led to a four-run Cougarette sixth inning, brought Hays’ 2018 campaign to a close in a heartbreaking 5-2 area round playoff loss.

“I’m very proud of them,” said Hays head coach Lisa Cone. “Proud of their effort. You know we asked them to come out here and put up a fight and they absolutely did tha...