By By Tim Cottrell
The Escambia Academy Cougars baseball program may need to reconsider scheduling private schools from Mobile next season.
After a 9-1 loss to Faith Academy Monday, the Cougars are 1-3 against teams from that city.
Cougar errors allowed Faith to build a 9-0 lead through three-and-a-half innings. EA scored one run in the fourth inning, but that was as close as they would get.
Norris Brooks took the loss at pitcher for EA.
Matt Amerson and John Brantley provided what little offense there was for the Cougars, with Amerson driving a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning to score Brantley. Amerson finished 1-for-2 on the day and Brantley 1-for-3.
"We just didn't hit the ball well," Cougars head coach Mike Harrell said. "Their pitcher wasn't dominant, but he hit his spots. By the time we caught up to the pitching all we could do was hit line-drives straight at people.
"They (Faith) were a solid team," Harrell continued. "If we can ever find what makes us click as a team, we'll be very competitive. We've got Sparta tonight (Tuesday) and if we win we'll clinch the second seed for the playoffs."
EA 10
Ft. Dale 8
The Cougars hosted an early-morning party Saturday with Fort Dale Academy out of Greenville.
Despite an early deficit, EA made sure the party would last all night.
In a game moved to 10 a.m. due to the prom at EA, the Cougars overcame a 7-1 deficit in the fifth inning to win going away, 10-8.
Trailing 7-2 in their half of the sixth inning, the Cougars sent 10 men to the plate, and eight of them scored to give EA a 10-7 lead.
Cody Norton came on in the fifth inning in relief of Buckie Dawson, and proceeded to close the door on Fort Dale, striking out five in his limited work.
Drew Shamblin provided the fireworks on the day, hitting a three-run homer in the decisive sixth to give the Cougars the lead for good.
Other leading Cougars were Cody Norton, who drove a two-run double in his only at bat and scored on Shamblin's home run; John Brantley, who batted 1-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI; Norris Brooks, who batted 2-for-3 with an RBI; and Joe Drew, who went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
"Drew's home run really turned things around," Harrell said. "Cody Norton's pitching really got us back in the game."
Jay 10
ECHS 6
The losing streak for the Escambia County Blue Devil baseball team reached double-digits Friday, when the Blue Devils fell to Jay.
The Blue Devils led 2-1 after two innings, but the Royals produced four-run third and fifth innings to take a commanding 9-2 lead before a late ECHS rally.
Chris Graham took the loss for ECHS, getting the start and pitching 4 2/3 innings, allowing nine runs (five of which were earned), 12 hits, and striking out five. Kevin Green came on in relief for the Blue Devils, pitching 1 1/3 innings and allowing one unearned run. He struck out two batters.
Blue Devil skipper Keith Nall was searching for answers to the problems his Blue Devils (2-13) have faced over the last several weeks.
"We just can't put together complete games," Nall said. "To win, it takes pitching, hitting, and defense. We tend to do two of the three. That third part always hurts us. It's not always the same part that hurts us."
Offense was not the problem in this outing. Chris Graham and Alvin Simmons each went deep on the day. Both finished 2-for-4 with one RBI. Simmons scored twice.
Other leading Blue Devils were Darius English, who hit 2-for-4 with one RBI, one run scored, and a double; Chris Frost, who batted 1-for-3 on the day; Brian Johnson, who legged out a double in four at-bats, he knocked in one run and scored another; Jonathon McNeil, who batted 2-for-4 on the day with an RBI; and Jeremy Rolin and Farrell Staples, who each batted 1-for-3 with an RBI.
"We have hit six home runs in the last two games and lost both of them," Nall said. "It's frustrating for the players and coaches."