TACOMA -- It might have been funny it if weren't a little sad.

Logan Jackson, a sophomore pitcher for the Kamiakin baseball team, was standing all alone on the third baseline, introduced as the Braves "reserve" during introductions before Saturday's 3A third-place game with Camas.

With a bench of one -- none, really, with Jackson's injured arm limiting his availability -- and players out of position across the field, the final game of one of the finest seasons in the program's history could have been a laugher.

Instead, it turned into a reason to smile, despite a 6-4 loss to the Papermakers.

"That was the thing -- go compete and see what happens," said Braves coach Ryan Carter. "Not holding anything back and just get after them."

The Braves' hope for a third-place trophy seemingly went up in smoke back at the team motel Friday night.

Kamiakin was going to be missing two players after Friday's 3-2 loss to Mount Si in the semifinals. First baseman Jon Allen was ejected for colliding with the catcher trying to score on a sacrifice fly on the game's final play, and backup catcher Rowdy Grayson was tossed when both teams came onto the field after the play.

WIAA rules dictate that any player or coach ejected from a game must sit out the next contest as well.

But between the end of Friday's game and the start of Saturday's, the Braves lost six more players, all of them seniors, for what Carter called a "team disciplinary action."

The only seniors suited up Saturday were pitcher Garrett Anderson, playing left field, and outfielder Justin Berneski, playing third base for the first time since his sophomore year on the JV team.

"We just wanted to go out and compete," Berneski said. "The younger guys proved a lot."

But the Papermakers prevailed, despite the Braves' best efforts.

"Jesse Houser on the bump, he just battled all day," Carter said, tipping his hat to all the seniors. "One choice doesn't make a season. The seniors this year were outstanding."