Submitted photos – Broc Contreras in action for the Cubs on Saturday.

The South Forks boys saw their season end in a competitive and entertaining showdown against Point Arena in the North Coast Section baseball playoffs on Saturday.

The Cubs fell 3-2 in the Division-6 semifinals in Miranda and closed out one win shy of facing Little 4 rival Ferndale for the section championship.

Senior team captain Derek Billy set the tone for the visitors with an outstanding performance on the mound and held the Cubs bats to just one hit for the day and struck out 11.

“That kid is one heck of a pitcher,” Cubs head coach Chris Contreras said. “He’s probably the best pitcher we’ve seen all season.”

Playing in front of a big home crowd, the Cubs took a two-run lead on a two-RBI ground-rule double by senior Justin Freitas in the third inning, but the Pirates would respond with three unanswered runs to set up a championship showdown at Ferndale on Wednesday.

“It was definitely a tough loss,” Contreras said. “Not the way I thought the season was going to go.”

Broc Contreras, who has impressed on the hill this season, got the start and began well, but he would tweak his hip during an at-bat after being hit by a pitch in the bottom half of the inning and it appeared to affect him on the mound.

The senior pitched 4.1 innings and gave up just one earned run on three hits and three walks, while striking out four.

Chris Pedaris pitched 2.2 innings in relief and allowed just two hits and struck out two.

The difference in the game, however, was Billy’s pitching and the Cubs’ inability to get their offense going.

They stranded four runners on base, and as Chris Contreras said that was a difference maker in a tight game.

This was also the final game for the head coach, who is stepping down after six years with the team.

“I really thought it was going to be one of those years where we would make it to three section championships,” he said of his players, many of whom also played in NCS finals in football and basketball this year. “But that’s how the cookie crumbles. That’s life.

“But it was one heck of a ball game. Probably the best game we’ve been in all year.”

Chris Contreras also praised the South Fork community and everyone who has helped with the program this year.

“I want to thank the entire Southern Humboldt community for always coming out and supporting us,” he said. “We had a great crowd today. It was awesome. And all the volunteers that really make sports happen here in Southern Humboldt and at South Fork High School.

“I wish the program good luck. I know there’s some good eighth graders coming in.”

Chris Contreras also said he was proud of his team’s NCS scholastic banner, which was one of just three the H-DNL was awarded for the spring sports seasons, saying those banners mean more to him than those won on the field of competition.

He also praised his seven seniors for what they have done for the program.

“I have bo doubt the seven seniors will collectively do great things in their lives,” he said.

He also wished the best of luck to both Point Arena and Ferndale in next week’s championship showdown.