By By Tim Cottrell
The Escambia Academy Cougar baseball season came to a screeching halt Friday afternoon in the Final Four of the Alabama Independent School Association's state baseball playoffs.
Down to their final out in their second game of the day, the Cougars season finished when a Cougar runner was called out after stumbling on the third base path and ran into coach Mike Harrell. Rules state that when a player is touched by a coach he is out.
Despite the disappointment, Harrell felt his first season had been a successful one.
"It's been a great year," Harrell said. "We had a lot of seniors contributing and this was the first time they had made the Final Four in six years. I feel like we were the best team out there. We just couldn't squeeze in the runs."
Patrician Academy of Butler went on to win the state championship Saturday over Clarke Prep.
Tuscaloosa 2
Facing Tuscaloosa Academy for the third time this season, the Cougars saw significantly more success than they had had in the first two outings, but fell just short of the win.
Joe Drew took the loss at pitcher, throwing six innings and striking out one. He allowed only six hits, but a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning proved to be the difference.
Norris Brooks scored the only Cougar run, reaching on a fielder's choice in the top of the seventh and coming around to score after a John Brantley single and an error. Cody Norton and Drew Shamblin both batted 1-for-3 on the day.
"That Tuscaloosa game was one we knew we had to win," Harrell said. "It would have put us in the driver's seat. I thought they would be the best team there, so we figured if we got by that one we'd be in good shape."
Clarke Prep 1
The Cougars faced another pitcher's duel just a few short hours later when they faced the Gators of Clarke Prep for the third time this season. Much like the other two meetings, the Gators pulled out a tight game in the end.
Norris Brooks took the loss at pitcher, throwing six innings and striking out two. He allowed only four hits on the day, and the one run he allowed was unearned.
EA fared a little better against the Clarke Prep hurler, striking out seven times and garnering only two base hits, both of which were singles. Brooks and Matt Amerson provided the two hits.
"Norris pitched a great game," Harrell said. "We had seen this pitcher before. We faced him the last time. He didn't have any great stuff; we just couldn't catch up to it."