GAFFNEY — Throughout the season, Coach Lynn Hicks said she could tell that the Lady ’Canes had a “target on their back,” as their opponents were eager to defeat the defending state champions.

It wasn’t easy for the opposition, though, as Wren finished with a solid 28-4 record, finishing the season with a 2-1 playoff loss to Gaffney High School during the Upper State Championship.

With Wren down 1-0 in the fifth inning on Friday, Stephanie Saylors was called for an “illegal pitch,” and Gaffney later scored another run.

Saylors knocked in a run in the seventh inning with a sacrifice fly, but Gaffney kept the score at 2-1.

“Obviously, we didn’t reach our goal,” said Hicks, but added that she’s still extremely proud of the players.

“I think we’ve done very well,” she said.

The Lady ’Canes are losing five seniors, who’ve all earned college scholarships. But the Lady ’Canes have seven juniors and a JV team that was undefeated in the region, so Hicks said she feels confident about next year’s season.

“I think we’ve got a pretty good nucleus coming back,” she said.

Gaffney and South Florence are vying for the state AAAA championship.