By JOSH FRYE
News Sports Writer
Escambia Academy’s hopes of winning a softball championship was cut short on April 22 when the Lady Cougars dropped both games of their playoff double-header to South Choctaw.
The Lady Rebels defeated the EA girls by scores of 13-0 and 15-0 in the first round of AISA Regionals.
Team and individual stats for those games were not made available by the Escambia Academy coaching staff.
Despite the heart-wrenching losses during the postseason’s first round, the Lady Cougars made for a successful season, recording their first double-digit win campaign since 2011.
The team’s hopes were high coming into the playoffs, following a drubbing of West Florida Baptist and a close loss to Jackson Academy.
Lexie Hollinger struck out three batters in five innings to help fuel a 20-10 win against West Florida Baptist on April 16.
Mary Thompson Lancaster hit a pair of doubles and recorded two stolen bases in that contest. Kiah Parker drove in three runs, and Raven Ramer hit two singles and drove in two runners during the contest.
That win followed a heartbreaking 8-7 defeat by Jackson just a day earlier.
Hollinger also started on the mound for EA against Jackson. She pitched seven innings, giving up 4 earned runs on 6 hits.
The Lady Cougars, however, remained hot with the lumber.
Lancaster came up with a huge triple and recorded two stolen bases; Parker slammed an inside-the-park home run, drove in three runners and ripped a double; Kaile Gumapac had two doubles, and Julie Conway had two walks, stole two bases and drove in two runs.