LOYD STAR — Lake traveled 1 hour and 47 minutes to Loyd Star today only to have the third game in the playoff series be rained out. A silver tarp was stretched across the infield Tuesday afternoon but it was too late as a deluge of rain dumped at least an inch forcing the game to be postponed until Wednesday.

Administrators and coaches met in centerfield to discuss what was next.

In the meantime, Loyd Star fans clustered in groups chatting under umbrellas as the rain started to slow down. A couple in Lake gear discussed dinner plans at Cracker Barrel as they walked to their car. One Loyd Star softball player, still in uniform, told her parents the game was cancelled.

A couple of men examined the drainage away from the softball field as a rushing creek flowed behind the softball concession stand. Loyd Star’s press box emptied as PA announcers and scorekeepers walked down the wooden set of stairs and left. One said he was unsure what would happen next.

Finally, a few players went onto the softball field only to pick up the ends of the tarp and pull it off the infield with head coach Scott Leggett and incoming principal Seth Lofton. Leggett examined the pool of water surrounding home plate before walking over to Loyd Star’s dugout to grab a shovel.

“All we can do is try again tomorrow but it isn’t happening today,” he said. “We will try and play Wednesday. The next round is supposed to start Thursday so I’m not sure what we will do if we get rained out again tomorrow. You could be looking at playing at a possible neutral site but we shall see.”

Loyd Star’s third game against Lake is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday at Loyd Star. The winner will advance in the MHSAA softball playoffs. NWS Jackson forecasts a 60 percent chance of rain tomorrow.