Gaffney shortstop Grayson Goforth scrambles back to first base after singling in the fourth inning on Tuesday against York. Photo by LARRY HILLIARD The Gaffney Indians sure didn’t play like defending Class 4A state champions on Tuesday.

Starter Michael Wright was victimized by shoddy defense and the visiting York Cougars capitalized with eight unearned runs to beat the homestanding Indians, 8-2, in the region opener for both teams.

Understandably upset, Gaffney coach Jeff Osment didn’t pull any punches after the disappointing outcome.

“I was just completely utterly disappointed with the effort,” Osment said. “We had a couple of mistakes and made a couple of errors.”

Effort shouldn’t be a problem the next time the teams meet since several York players were overheard after the game, saying “Gaffney, who?”

But on this day, a lively Cougars’ bench appeared to want the game more.

Gaffney actually broke out on top 2-0 in the first inning on walks to Dylan Huskey and Josh Mata, a Corey Crissone base hit and aggressive base running by pinch runner Ryan Frock, who scored when Crissone got caught in a run down.

The Cougars tied it up with a pair of unearned runs in the third.

It stayed that way until the fifth when the Cougars pushed across three more unearned runs. In the seventh, York made it 8-2 on - you guessed it - a couple more unearned runs.

Crissone, Grayson Goforth and Joey Copeland all hit safely for the Indians.

Osment’s mood was considerably more upbeat on Monday when Nick Smiley pitched four solid innings and Josh Mata knocked in four runs in the Indians’ 13-3 victory over Boiling Springs in a game that was called after five innings on the 10-run rule.

After trailing 3-0, the Indians broke the game open with eight runs in the second inning.

Osment said he was most pleased by the fact the Indians continued to be aggressive at the plate even after building a big lead.

“We never got complacent,” the Gaffney coach said.

Crissone and Mike Wood each had a 2-run double and Wright added two hits and a pair of RBIs for the Indians.

Gaffney’s Bryon Munsterman pitched a scoreless fifth inning.

The Indians (4-3 overall and 0-1 in the region) travel to Boiling Springs for a rematch on Thursday before hosting Nation Ford on Friday.