By Stan Caldwell/Sports Writer

COLUMBIA — Pitching is a fundamental part of baseball, and when a team’s pitching fails, bad things usually happen.

That was the case for Pass Christian Monday night in Game 3 of the Class 4A playoffs first-round series against Columbia in a 15-2 defeat at John Sapin Field on the CHS campus.

The Pirates finished their season at 9-19 overall, while the Wildcats (16-14) advance to the second round and a date with defending 4A state champion West Lauderdale, beginning Friday at Collinsville.

Pass won the first game 6-5 Friday night, but were beaten 11-5 Saturday at home, setting up the rubber game of the series.

“That was the series,” said Pass head coach Ricky Smith. “We gave up a lot of free passes in Game 2 as well, and it reared its head again tonight. That was the difference in the ball game.”

The loss brought an end to Smith’s tenure as coach at Pass after eight seasons as head coach. He will be taking over as the new athletic director at Gulfport.

“I’m proud of the work we’ve done these last eight years,” Smith said. “There’s always room for improvement, obviously. I wish I could have done a little bit more.

“But it is what it is on that front. This program has done well for me, and I’m very proud and fortunate to be a part of it.”

Things started off on the right track for the Pirates, as they scored two runs in the top of the first inning off Columbia junior right-hander Carson Williamson.

Senior Stephen Tinsley drew a leadoff walk, stole second, moved to third on a groundout to the right side, then senior Kayleb Munsch.

Munsch got caught in a rundown trying to steal, kept the play alive long enough for Tinsley to score, then made it back to first base safely. A pair of wild pitches moved him to third, and he scored on a double by sophomore Jayden Taylor with two out.

But Williamson got a called third strike to get out of further trouble, and that was an ill omen for the Pirates.

“He was good,” said Smith. “His velo was up a little bit early, but I thought we had good at-bats early. He dropped down a little bit, and threw a little change-up, or a slurve that was different tonight, and we just didn’t adjust to it.

“All credit to them; they played well.”

And Columbia wasted little time taking advantage of wildness on the part of senior right-hander Raymond Fitzgerald, who started for Pass Christian, as he did Friday in Game 1.

Fitzgerald (2-1) lasted just four batters, issuing three walks and a single, the third walk bringing home a run, before giving way to junior Cooper Lydock.

Lydock got back-to-back strikeouts, and looked like he might get out of the jam. But he too lost command of the strike zone, letting two more runs in with a walk and a hit batter, the Columbia freshman Max McDaniel drove in two runs with a single.

While the Pirates’ pitching was falling apart, Williamson (3-4) settled in, allowing five hits, striking out nine, walking three and he hit a batter.

On the flip side, Pass allowed 11 hits, walked six, had three hit batters and committed two costly errors. The Wildcats sent 10 batters to the plate in the first and third innings, and had eight batters in the fourth.

Still, the Pirates had some chances in the remaining innings, until the game got out of hand. Junior Aiden Holmes led off the second with a double, and Tinsley followed with a two-out single to put runners on first and third.

But Williamson got a strikeout to end that threat, and he also worked around back-to-back singles by Munsch and Lyrock to open the third inning.

“We’ve been up and down all season,” said Taylor. “But I wouldn’t trade this season for anything. I love these guys. Columbia’s got a good team, and I think they can go pretty far in the playoffs.”

Columbia added a pair of unearned runs in the second, then broke it open in the third with five more runs, as Lydock ran out of gas. Holmes finished it up for Pass, allowing three runs to give the Wildcats enough cushion to ensure the run-rule stayed in effect.

Despite the disappointing finish, the Pirates saluted their coach as he transitions into the next phase of his career.

“I love my coach,” said Taylor. “He’s done great for us. He gave me an opportunity to be successful. He’s going to Gulfport, and I wish the best for him.”