Staff photo / Dan Hiner Warren G. Harding pitcher Khalef Freeman delivers during the first inning of a Division II district final against Lakewood in Mentor.

MENTOR — It was an old-fashioned pitchers duel on Mentor High School campus. Unfortunately, the Warren G. Harding baseball team came out on the wrong end.

Harding fell 1-0 to Lakewood on Thursday in a Division II district final, bringing an end to the Raiders’ season.

“When you’re playing a team like that, can’t make mistakes. I think we made one, I don’t think they made any,” Harding head coach Andrew Burnett said. “Both pitchers were outstanding. I think there were three hits in the whole game. Baseball’s a funny game. Sometimes you play great and still lose.”

Both pitchers avoided opposing bats early as neither team recorded a hit in the first three innings.

Khalef Freeman took the loss, but he kept the Raiders in the game for as long as possible. He allowed one unearned run on two hits and three walks. He struck out one in the complete game.

“He’s been a horse all year. If I’m starting a baseball team, he’s the first one I pick,” Burnett said. “(He) wants it, he battles. Small in stature, but he’s got the biggest heart of anyone I ever coached. He wants the ball, he wants to go out there and perform and he did a heck of a job.”

The Raiders (16-12) only had two hits, but they drew a few walks to create an early scoring chance.

Kwame Adams drew a leadoff walk in the top of the third inning. Airiz Coleman Bey bunted Adams to second, and back-to-back walks to Gummy Hart and Bryttain Fuller loaded the bases with two outs.

But the Raiders stranded the bases loaded, and it turned out to be their best opportunity of the game.

“It was the spot we wanted to be in. I think it was four, five coming up – they had six hits in Tuesday’s game combined,” Burnett said. “It’s a funny game. Sometimes you get the hits and sometimes you don’t. That’s why you love baseball and hate baseball at the same time.”

The Rangers got a runner on with two outs in the home half of the third. Lakewood’s Logan Ellis almost put the Rangers in front with a deep fly ball to center, but Coleman Bey made a critical catch on a dead sprint just shy of the fence to keep the game scoreless.

“I didn’t have time to slow down on that one,” Coleman Bey said when he got back to the dugout.

Harding’s Elias Johnson topped a ball to the left of the mound and recorded an infield single for the game’s first hit with one out in the fourth. However, the Rangers turned a 4-6-3 double play to get out of the inning.

The Raiders got a base runner on again when Hart singled to start the sixth. But after a fielder’s choice, the Rangers turned their second double play of the game to end the visiting half.

Lakeview (20-5) finally scored the only run of the game in the sixth.

Drew Jones drew a leadoff walk and stole second to get into scoring position. A sacrifice bunt moved Jones to third, and he scored on a passed ball.

Harding went down in order to end the game.

“We knew coming in that we’d have to play a clean game and get the ball in play and put it down,” Burnett said. “We missed a few opportunities with some bunts early … came back to bite us.”

It was a solid year for the Raiders, who improved from 12 wins last season. A group of five seniors – Jacob Borsic, Corey Kuhn, Fuller, Coleman Bey and Freeman – helped lead the Raiders this season and push the program forward.

“They were the first ones in, the last ones out,” Burnett said. “They were calling everyone else to go get work in the offseason. We’re leaving to hit and you get a call an hour later asking, ‘Can we hit some more?’ It’s going to be hard replacing those guys from a leadership standpoint. Can’t ask for a better group of seniors.”

Thursday’s game was Harding’s first shot at a district title since 2010.

After the game, Burnett talked to his returning players. He reiterated what it took for the Raiders to reach the district final and that they need to continue to work in the offseason to get back there next year.

“It’s been a while,” Burnett said. “We’re moving in the right direction, we’re building it in the way it’s supposed to be built. Hopefully, we can continue it.”