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KNOXVILLE -- The fourth time wasn't the charm. In fact, it was whatever the opposite of the charm is.

Heritage baseball faced South-Doyle four times this season, and the Mountaineers won three of those games. However, on Saturday, after an ominous morning storm, Heritage lost 5-4 in the fourth and most important game against the Cherokees. That loss came in the District 4-AAA tournament at Bearden, ending the Mountaineers' season.

"South-Doyle won the one that counted," said HHS coach Robbie Bennett. "I think we were a bit hung over from last night's loss to William Blount. To come out and have 12 hits and lose (to the Govs), we couldn't seem to get our focus today. It's almost like William Blount beat us twice."

South-Doyle scored in the first inning and twice more in the top of the third, but Heritage fought back.

With only four hits for the entire game, the Mountaineers made use of efficiency, scoring four runs on two big hits.

In the bottom of the third, with two men on, Heritage right fielder Justin Montgomery delivered a backside bandit two-RBI double, going down the right-field line.

South-Doyle would pull away again in the top of the fifth, scoring two and bringing the lead back to three, but again the Mountaineers found a way back in the game.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, senior Brandon Reed connected with an 0-1 pitch and not-so-gently placed it into the foliage over the left-field wall, bringing Heritage within one.

"I think we were down all game from last night," Reed said. "It took something like that (his home run) to get us back into the game, but it was too little too late."

Michael Cermak and freshman catcher Brandon Malone were the only other Heritage batters with a hit.

Heritage pitcher Jordan Coughron held Cherokees for the last two innings, but the offense couldn't produce the comeback. Coughron finished the complete game, allowing eight hits and just three earned runs in seven innings.

"The only season that matters is district," Reed said. "And it was a short season."

The disappointment and heartache, worn especially on the faces of the seniors, was all too clear as the team lingered on the field after the one-run loss.

"It's been up and down," Bennett said of the 2008 campaign. "You can see that just with this tournament. We have 12 hits last night and then (four) today. It seemed like it was always hard for us to stay focused.

"Next year we will just have to work that much harder. We are a predominantly a young team, and as long as we can find our focus, this program has a bright future. As long as this team is playing for the name on the uniform, we'll be OK."