A dominating performance at the plate was how Escambia County Lady Blue Devils head softball coach Darryl Otwell described his team’s win at Hillcrest High School in Evergreen.

The No. 9 Lady Blue Devils (9-0, 1-0)  made the quick trip up Highway 31 to faceoff with the Lady Jaguars and came away the victors with a 16-2 decision.

The victory was made easier with every starter recording at least one hit and scoring at least one run..

Thursday’s strong performance at the plate was something easy to notice for Otwell.

“It was just a dominating win for us,” he said. “The girls were hitting the ball really well, which is something they have done well all season. It was just a great day offensively for our entire team.”

Things jumped off to a quick start for ECHS in the top of the first inning, as the Lady Blue Devils made the most of their first at-bat scoring eight runs. Lady Blue Devil Tristen Boothe (3-for-3, 3R, HR) was the batter to kick off the scoring opening the game with an inside the park home run. She scored twice in the inning.

Also scoring in the inning for the Lady Blue Devils were Jasmine Ireland (2-for-3, 2R, 2B), Taylor Hill (3-for-4, 2R, 2B), Y-netta Craft (2-for-4, R), Sierra Smith (3-for-4, 2R), Ashleigh Simpkins (2-for-4, 2R) and Lexi Daughtry (2-for-4, 2R, 2 2B).

In the bottom of the inning pitcher Kaylee Cox went to work for the Lady Blue Devils and made quick work of Hillcrest’s first three batters earning two strikeouts in the inning.

Neither team would score in the second inning, as the Blue Devils only recieved a hit from Hill. From the pitcher’s circle, Cox gave up one hit, but recorded her third strikeout and would be relieved in the third inning by Hill.

Escambia County got back on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning with Boothe, Ychelle Walker (1-for-4, R, 2B) and Ireland would all cross the plate.

Moving to the circle for Cox, Hill made the most of her opportunities picking up holding off the Lady Jaguars in the bottom of the third to hold the ECHS lead at 11-0.

The Lady Blue Deivls put their run advantage to 14 runs in the top of the fourth inning with Smith, Simpkins and Daughtry all scoring their second run of the game.

Hill and the Lady Devils defense continued to hold Hillcrest off of the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning, as Hill gave up one hit, but struck out two batters.

The game was put out of reach in the top of the fifth, as Cox (2-for-4, R, 2 2B) and Hill scored the final two Lady Blue Devils runs to put the score at 16-0.

Despite strong efforts to get a shut out, the Lady Jaguars finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth with runs from Nakiya Stevens and Holley, but it would not be enough, as ECHS would earn a 16-2 win.

The Lady Blue Devils next game will be Wednesday at home against UMS-Wright. The game begins at 4 p.m. at Tom Byrne Park.