EDENTON — It was noted that for Washington to make a playoff run, their bats would have to become active. That was not the case in their second-round playoff game against the top-seeded Edenton Aces.

Edenton defeated the Pam Pack 7-0 Thursday night as the Aces’ Matthew Benfield tossed a no-hitter. By effectively spotting his pitches as well as changing speeds, the lefty kept hitters off balance and not able to get good cuts at the ball. In the game, Benfield struck out 11 Pam Pack batters.

Senior Cody Godley got the start for Washington. He settled in and pitched well through the fourth inning after getting touched up for two first-inning runs. Edenton struck for three runs in the fifth, and two runs in the sixth to close out the scoring. Juniors Tyler Harrell and Chris Sulc also pitched in the game. Washington ended the year with a 15-8 record, which, with all the starters returning, is a bit of an underachieving season.

In a year with high promise and with eight position players returning, the Pam Pack was optimistic coming into the year. However, it came out of the gate with a disappointing 2-5 record with poor defensive play leading to the uneven start. Arguably, the team lost at least two games that were winnable and in its grasp. After an injury sidelined Godley, senior Riley Davis was inserted into the second base hole, and the defense rapidly improved, as evidenced by a 10-game winning streak. The Pam Pack stormed through the 2-A Eastern Plains Conference until the next to last conference series with North Johnston. It lost two difficult games and ended up second in the conference. With one more win along the line, the Washington would have hosted a playoff game, but instead, it hit the road for an impressive first round win against Eastern Randolph prior to Thursday’s season-ending loss.

In an unusual twist, and testament to program building, the Pam Pack had four senior starters that were four-year varsity players. Seniors Logan Little, Matt Black, Tripp Barfield, and Godley have helped the program grow and were rewarded with a playoff win.

Each provided key attributes. Little was a key hitter and a defensive utility man, Black held down centerfield for four years, Barfield played the infield corners and was a key pitcher, and Godley was a middle infielder and starter on the mound. These players contributed to the Pam Pack for four years and will be missed.

The 2018 version of Washington’s club should be just as competitive as the 2017 iteration. A bevy of junior starters return including Frederick Holscher, Chris Sulc, Tyler Harrell, Cooper Anderson, and Carson Asby. Harrell, Sulc, Holscher, and rising junior Logan Everette will provide the Pam Pack with quality starting pitching. The program has now been built, and the 2018 Pack will continue to grow it.