The Pike Lib Patriots fell to area rivals Monroe Academy 8-5 in extra innings on Tuesday.

Despite the loss, head coach Allen Ponder was not disappointed with the team’s effort, something he said the Patriots had done a great job of keeping up all season.

“Our effort was great,” Ponder said. “We had great effort, we just played a six inning game. We had one inning where we fell a part a little bit and lost our composure a little bit, but when you allow a team to crawl back in it and gain momentum it’s tough getting it back. I thought we did a great job of trying to regain it.”

Ponder said the team had been able to get the bases loaded during the sixth inning, but was unable to get the big hit they needed to in order to comeback and tie or win the game.

“That was kind of the story of the game,” Ponder said. “But, Monroe did a great job. I take my hat off to them. They did another great job like they did the first time we played them. They battled and did what they had to do to win the game.”

At stake in Tuesday’s contest was area ranking and the right to host the second round of playoffs.

“Being number two we’ll host the first round, but then we’ll have to travel,” Ponder said. “It’s all the same. Everyone has got to win when it comes playoff time, and I believe that when it’s playoff time it’s not about who is home or who is away. I believe it’s who is hot going into the playoffs and who catches fire when you get there. We still have an opportunity to do that.”

Ponder said the team would continue to work on the same things living by the motto of “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.”

“We’re going to continue to work on the same things, we’re not going to change our approach,” Ponder said. “We still believe in the system. We know what we have to do to be good and to win, and we’re going to continue working on those things. We’ve shown signs of it all year, and we’re going to continue to get better in those areas.”

Ponder said he liked the team’s chances for when they get to playoffs, but right now the focus would be on the next games for the Patriots. And, coming off of a loss Ponder knows he’s going to have to get the team’s heads back in the game.

“It’s always tough to do, especially when it’s a big game like this one,” Ponder said. “When it’s such a big game and you battle and fight and you come up on the losing end, it’s always hard to get up for that next game, but that’s the tell of a good team. If you can come out and play with some enthusiasm and things of that nature the next game that always helps from a momentum standpoint.”

The Patriots have been notorious for battling this season, and Ponder said he hoped they would continue to do so the remainder of the season.

“We’ve always got to battle and be able tow in the battle,” Ponder said. “Unfortunately, we just came up on the losing end of it today.”

The Patriots will host the Hooper Academy Colts at home Thursday.