The Dallas County Hornets lost by a combined 31-0 in a first-round playoff doubleheader to the Marbury Bulldogs, but Hornets head coach Cody Massey wasn’t too upset after the games.

“These two were some of the most enjoyable games I was able to coach because the kids never got down, they had fun,” Massey said. “They played the game the way it’s supposed to be played.”

The Hornets lost the first game 7-0 and were eliminated from the playoffs with a 24-0 defeat in the second game.

“At the end of the day, we walked off the field with our heads held high,” Massey said.

Dallas County went into the game with plenty of inexperience after nine senior and junior players left the team just a few weeks ago.

One of the more experienced players still left on the team, Gabe Denson, pitched the first game for Dallas County.

Although the Hornets failed to score a run, Massey said the team held its own defensively.

Six of the seven runs were unearned, and the Bulldogs only had six hits.

Although the outcome of the second game was never a mystery, Massey said he was impressed by a few freshman who played well in added time.

Next season, with reclassification, Marbury — along with Calera and Jemison — will be in Dallas County’s area.

“We’ve got our work cut out for us,” Massey said.

“But we’re up for the challenge and we’re going to give it everything we’ve got to give.”