Centralia has made comebacks before this season but couldn't on Tuesday.

Centralia vs North Callaway Photo Gallery

The Panthers lost 6-2 at home to Class 3 District 7 foe and No. 7 North Callaway (16-2) after each team went into the night with 15 wins. Centralia (15-11) matched North Callaway's six hits but allowed some runs via three errors and early walks.

Anthony Ford struck out five and allowed three earned runs in 4 1/3 innings pitched, and Chase Kempker allowed one earned run on two hits in 2 2/3 innings. Head coach Mike Rodgers said Centralia fell behind on moments such as a bases-loaded walk and two more scored via errors.

"We gave them free bases early on," Rodgers said. "When we do that, we give them the momentum. They're aggressive on the bases so we didn't want to give them free bases. We did that by kicking the ball around and walks."

Henry Bohlmeyer went 2-for-2 with one walk, Luke Waltemate was 1-for-2 with two walks and Cole Higginson had one RBI in the seventh inning.

Rodgers said there were instances Centralia hit the ball hard but was right at somebody. North Callaway freshman second baseman Cody Kemp was on the receiving end of several of those liners, including on two diving catches and one he turned into a double play by throwing the ball to first base.

"He had a big-time game," Rodgers said. "Any one of those go through, it's a whole different game."

Rodgers said Centralia's hitters did well by "staying down on the ball and hitting where it's pitched." He said the Panthers work on that because that's how the coaches would like them to hit, like taking outside pitches the other way.

Bohlmeyer did this and was the only one to remain unscathed from the black hole at second base. He lined a pitch that Kemp couldn't catch on a diving attempt.

"It's the same thing I see every game," Rodgers said. "He and Chase Kempker, even when they don't get hits, have competitive at-bats. They put the ball in play, they hit the ball hard, and they have great discipline and hit the pitches they want to hit."

Rodgers said the Panthers have been remarkable as they have battled through the schedule, including four extra-inning games that made them play 13 additional innings. He said two of those games were 12 innings and 11 innings in the Boonville Wood Bat Tournament on the same day as prom.

Centralia has three more regular season games, including one against district opponent Montgomery County (11-5) and Class 4 No. 9 Blair Oaks (14-12) at 5 p.m. Friday. Rodgers said the Panthers need to play strong despite probably being tired with graduation coming soon.

"We're the most battle-tested team around since we went into so many extra innings and have played a lot of ball," Rodgers said. "They have good energy. We need to understand that we've had some comeback wins so we need to stay in the game and stay locked in from the first pitch to the last pitch."