The Washington Wild Things have ended a season without a spot in the Frontier League playoffs for the first time in the team's seven-year history.

The Wild Things wrapped up the 2008 campaign with a 7-3 loss to the Midwest Sliders on Wednesday night at Consol Energy Park. With the loss, the Wild Things finished with a 48-48 record, the franchise's worst since it started play in 2002. They came in third place in the East Division, 12 games behind the division champion Kalamazoo Kings, and were three games in back of the Gateway Grizzlies for the fourth and final playoff spot.

"It's the first time it's happened, so it's disappointing," outfielder Chris Sidick said. "We've been in playoff races before. For some reason, things just didn't click."

The Wild Things, who lost to the Windy City ThunderBolts in the fifth and deciding game of the Frontier League championship series in 2007, were hurt by an 11-18 record in August, which turned them from playoff contenders to also-rans.

The month included three consecutive losses at Evansville, which finished in last place in the West Division. Three of the wins came at the expense of the Sliders, who were the worst team in the Frontier League.

"It wasn't the best August we could have had," first-year manager Greg Jelks said. "But we battled, and the kids gave it their all."

Jelks, who became the third manager in franchise history when he took over for John Massarelli before the season, saw his team struggle to a 1-6 start in 2008 before rebounding to push past .500, at 26-24, by the All-Star break.

"I'm not very pleased [with missing the playoffs], but I am content with the season we've had," he said. "From the rough start, to get back to where we were after the All-Star break ... The first of August, we had a chance, and things just fell apart. We have no one to blame but ourselves."

In the long run, the Wild Things were hurt by their pitching staff:

• Its 4.87 ERA was the fourth-highest in the Frontier League.

• Its 12 saves was the lowest total in the league.

• In perhaps the most-telling stat of the season, the Wild Things pitching staff lost 22 games while holding a lead after seven innings.

"You take half of those losses and add those on our record, and we're in the playoffs," Jelks said. "There's no question the back end of our pitching staff failed. I take accountability for that."

Wild Things general manger Ross Vecchio was pleased with how his new manager handled some of the adversity the Wild Things faced this season.

"Greg did a great job for us this year," he said. "When you look at the hurdles we had to overcome, he kept us right in there until the very end. He certainly kept charging and never gave up from day one."

Jelks came to the Wild Things after managing at two other stops in the Frontier League, Evansville (2002-06) and Slippery Rock (2007). While with Evansville, Jelks won the Frontier League title in 2006.

"This is no doubt one of my toughest years," he said. "To come to an organization that was so successful with everything they've done ... There were changes. I instituted my style of play and my style of discipline. But I had the backing of my GM, and I knew where we wanted to go. I think we've done that."

The 2008 season saw its share of highlights as well.

Sidick, outfielder/designated hitter Jacob Dempsey, and pitchers Aaron Ledbetter and Mike Schellinger were named to the All-Star team in July.

Dempsey, in his first season with the Wild Things, was named to the postseason All-Star team after leading the club with a .310 average, 17 home runs and 88 RBIs.

"It was tremendous to watch him," Jelks said. "This kid sat out the whole year last year, and then he started out slow. For him to come back and put up the numbers he did was tremendous."

Ledbetter posted a 9-6 record with a 5.10 ERA in 21 starts. Ledbetter finished his Wild Things career as the Frontier League's all-time leader in wins, games started, complete games, innings pitched and strikeouts.

Schellinger also had a 9-6 record with a 3.95 ERA.

Sidick, a Canon-McMillan graduate, finished his fourth season with the team with a .311 average 11 home runs, 45 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases.

"It was a pretty good year," Sidick said. "We came up short for the playoffs, but I had a good time with the guys and a good time playing in front of the community that supports us. In the end, that's all that matters."