By By Matthew Nascone
Two runs allowed in the first inning is never good for a pitcher, but Northview's Travis Duncan found a way to recover Thursday against Escambia County. Duncan (2-0) rebounded from the first inning and went on to grab the victory in the 5-3 decision.
He went 5.2 innings and allowed only one hit after the first inning and no more runs. He was pulled in the sixth inning due to soreness in his elbow. Before his exit, Duncan struck out six Blue Devils.
"He looked good out there," NHS head coach Sid Wheatley said. "He stayed strong after that first inning and pitched well for us."
NHS (5-2) responded to the two-run first by ECHS (1-2) with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning and exploded in the third inning with a three-run burst to take the lead 4-2.
The third inning opened with a leadoff double by second baseman Sean Little and he advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Brandon Walker. Duncan singled through the middle to score Little and tie the game at 2-2.
Duncan later scored on an error to give the Chiefs the 3-2 lead. Northview would tack on another run as third baseman Phillip Enfinger scored on a single to right field by designated hitter Jake Lowery.
Little was 1-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored, Enfinger was 1-for-2 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI and left fielder Nick Angeles was 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
NHS added their final run in the fourth inning to bump the score to 5-2.
Blue Devils right fielder Guyel Martin threw out two potential Chiefs at the plate in the game to keep the score within reach.
ECHS mustered one run in the seventh inning against Enfinger, who had relieved Duncan in the sixth inning.
Matt Reynolds closed the door on Big Blue by striking out first baseman Corey Flowers to end the game with two runners aboard for ECHS.
"We hit in spurts tonight and we were able to string together some hits to get the win," Wheatley said. "But our pitching and our defense were the keys to the win tonight."
Wheatley said the game was a little too close for his comfort.
"I am trying to instill in these guys that when they get up in a game they can never be satisfied," he said. "When we have runners on base we need to get that big lick to get them in."
Blue Devils catcher Charles Dailey and second baseman Chris Frost were the only two Devils to get a hit in the game.
Blue Devils head coach Keith Nall was happy with the job Kevin Green for the Devils on the mound. Green (0-1) was hit with the loss.
"He threw the ball well and when he does that we have to win the game," Nall said. "I told him if he keeps throwing it like that we will get some wins for him."
Where the play on the defensive side of the ball was the key to the victory for the Chiefs, Nall said it was the element that might have cost the Devils a win. Big Blue committed four errors.
"We have to cut down on the errors," he said. "We can't make that many errors and expect to win the game."
NHS 6 – EA 0
The Chiefs faced the Escambia Academy Cougars Feb. 28 and Jesse Hayes pitched five innings in the 6-0 win for NHS.
"Jesse did a good job throwing the ball," Wheatley said. "We had good hard contact throughout the game and it is always good to get a win.
The game was the first of the season for the Cougars and they could not put together enough hits to grab a win. Hayes (1-1), Enfinger and Reynolds combined for a two-hit shutout.
Hayes struck out seven Cougars and walked four.
The Chiefs scored three runs in the first inning, one in the fourth, one in the fifth and one in the sixth.
Little was 2-for-4 with on run scored and one stolen base. Enfinger was 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI. Lowery was 2-for-3 and Brandon Walker was 1-for-4 with an RBI and two stolen bases.
John Brantley and Joe Drew were the two Cougars who got a hit.