RALEIGH — The NCSHAA 4-A baseball playoffs are down to eight teams, but unfortunately for Apex it is not one of them. The Cougars struggled to mount any significant offense and fell 2-1 in a pitching duel at Millbrook on Friday.

“I’m disappointed for our club,” Apex coach Mike Valder said. “But I’m proud of the way we played.”

Wildcats ace Jake Harris kept the Cougars off the scoreboard and, for the most part, the bases for six innings before they were finally able to put together a threat in the seventh. Harris had given up only three hits and issued one free pass – on a hit batsman – heading into the final inning, but opened the frame with back-to-back walks to Chris Diaz and Taylor Gitlin.

Christian Rholl followed with a single to right-centerfield, scoring Diaz and pulling Apex to within one at 2-1. With no outs and runners on first and second, Valder went to his bench and called for Bo McMillan to pinch hit.

McMillan unsuccessfully tried to drop down a sacrifice bunt and move the runners, but with two strikes was forced swing away and nearly got a hit. The sophomore hit a slow grounder between the pitcher’s mound and first base and if not for a diving stop and quick toss from Harris to Millbrook first baseman Bryan Lincoln, the Cougars would’ve had the bases loaded with nobody out.

“Harris made a phenomenal play,” Valder said. “It would’ve been big for us to load the bases with no outs, and I think getting that one out really settled Harris down on the mound.”

Harris appeared to hurt his shoulder on the play, but stayed in the game and was able to regain his control. He got Parker Harrell to pop out to first for the second out and with the go-ahead run in scoring position forced Theo Bacot to ground to second to end the game.

“Jake’s been a warrior for us all season,” Wildcats coach Brad Schrock said. “He always attacks and never gives in. I know if he’s pitching we’re going to be in the game with a chance to win.”

Despite the losing effort, Apex’s pitching and defense was nearly as effective as Millbrook’s.

Harry Voorhees got the start and went 3 1/3 innings and was responsible to both Wildcats runs, both of which came in the fourth inning. After that, the bullpen combination of Houston Hawley and Ryne Frankoff was lights out. Millbrook managed to put only one runner on base after the fourth.

“Apex is a tremendous defensive team,” Schrock said. “They always play good fundamental baseball and they’re taught how to play the game well.”

Valder was most pleased with his team’s unwillingness to quit.

“That seventh inning showed exactly what kind of team we are,” he said. “We competed to the final out.”

With the loss, the third seed from the Tri-Eight conference’s run comes to an end. But according to Valder, a month ago a trip to the third round of the state playoffs seemed impossible.

“We had some ups and downs this season,” he said. “Four weeks ago, we were nowhere near a good enough team to get to this point. But the kids came together and played as a team. It was a lot of fun to coach this team those last four weeks.”