In the moments after a season-ending loss, there are always tears. The pain of a sudden end to a season that was so successful can bring about a large amount of emotion, and that was no different for Ardmore’s players after a 5-0 loss to Mortimer Jordan Friday morning, which eliminated the Tigers from the Class 5A state tournament.

It was the third consecutive season Ardmore advanced to the state tournament. Two seasons ago, they advanced as the North Regional tournament runner-up, and last season did one better and won the North Regional tourney. They repeated that feat this year, sweeping through the North Regional in three games, defeating Sardis 4-0 in the championship game.

The tournament got off to a good start with a 12-4 victory over Shelby County, but a 10-6 loss to eventual state champion Hayden put Ardmore in the loser’s bracket and the 5-0 loss to Mortimer Jordan eliminated the Tigers long before they were hoping.

However, after the tears dried, Ardmore players could be proud of what they have accomplished. Of the more than 60 Class 5A teams that begin the season, only eight of them advance to the state tournament. Making it three seasons in a row is an even greater accomplishment.

Sure, Ardmore had two consecutive games where they came up short, but those losses in the state tournament should not be enough to overshadow everything that came before it, which include a Class 5A, Area 15 tournament championship and the North Regional tournament championship.

Ardmore only loses three senior starters from this year’s team — Karla Hice, Olivia Stafford and Mackenzie McCormack — and of those three, only McCormack played the entire season, as Hice and Stafford missed significant time due to injury.

Ardmore coach Stephen Baugh said next year’s team will be the most talented one he has coached since he has been at the school, so expectations will be just as high or higher next season. A fourth consecutive trip to the state tournament is certainly attainable, and an elusive state championship could also be in the cards.

Ardmore has a rich softball history, winning two slow-pitch softball state championships in the ’90s, and winning a fast-pitch state title in 2010.

The Tigers have been knocking on the door the past two years, and hopefully next year is when they finally break that door down and bring home a state championship trophy.

Ardmore’s loss Friday not only ended the Tigers’ softball season, it ended the 2018-19 scholastic sports year in Limestone County. It was a sports year full of excitement, great players and great teams, and I have had the pleasure covering it all for The News Courier.

It is only a few short months until it starts all over again, as high school football will be ramping up before you know it.

If next season is anything like the one that just concluded, it’s going to be a fun one.

Jeff Edwards can be reached at jeff@athensnews-courier.com.