THOMASVILLE — Fresh off its losses to Harris County on Friday, Thomas County Central’s baseball team began tuning up for the playoffs on Monday, playing the first of three non-region games set for this week.

In its first of two matchups against Region 1-2A opponents, the Yellow Jackets could not take advantage of key offensive opportunities, taking a 4-2 loss to Berrien at Yellow Jacket Field.

The Rebels got on the board first, drawing a walk off of Central starter Nick Herndon and taking a 1-0 lead on a RBI double in the top of the first inning.

Meanwhile, Central missed some clear chances in the bottom halves of the first and second, unable to bring anyone across with two runners on in each frame. However, in the third, the Yellow Jackets finally broke through when Kaleb Carter hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Doug Smith, tying the game at one apiece.

However, the rally left the bases loaded after the lone run, with Pace Mercer, Brandon Slocumb and Hunter Humphries all left stranded.

Berrien starting pitcher Darius Tisby pitched three strong innings, but was removed in the fourth after hurting his finger getting back to first on a pickoff throw.

Against the Rebels’ new pitcher, Nick Herndon gave the Yellow Jackets the lead in the fourth, scoring on a single from Smith. While Central gained the lead in the inning, it was yet another missed opportunity, with Central loading the bases with two outs again with no payoff.

The Rebels tied the game back up in the fifth, notching three hits in the inning. In the sixth, Berrien took the lead for good, taking advantage of an error and two more base hits. Central was only able to get one more baserunner in the game’s last three innings, a Mercer single with one out in the seventh.

Herndon pitched four innings for the Yellow Jackets, striking out two and allowing five hits and two walks. Slocumb took the loss on the mound, while Carter led his team at the plate, going 2-for-4 on the night.

Central will travel to Moultrie on Wednesday to take on Colquitt County before hosting Thomasville on Friday.