PUNTA GORDA — There was a time when it looked like Port Charlotte High School’s changing emotions could help the Pirates gain control in Tuesday night’s 3-0 loss to host Charlotte.

They were out of sorts from working in a new rotation. They were tired from a hard-fought win against DeSoto County the night before. They were discouraged from two straight games lost to Charlotte and its unrelenting defense, which kept finding ways to keep the ball in the air.