By JOSH FRYE
News Sportswriter
Post-season baseball hopes for Escambia County High School ended last Thursday, April 15, with a two-game loss against Mobile Christian School, who shutout the Blue Devils during a double-header series 14-0 and 10-0. During both games of the double-action series, ECHS fell behind early and could not come back.
During the 14-0 loss, Mobile Christian scored early and kept the runs coming. The Blue Devils had trouble finding solid ground against the high-powered Mobile Christian offense. Anthony McCants started on the mound for ECHS and the right-hander went 4 innings, allowing 14 runs on 12 hits and registered 3 strikeouts. Despite the score, the Blue Devils were sure-handed in the field and did not commit a single error. Exavion Bradley had the most chances in the field with 5. Mobile Christian stole base 12 times.
During the second matchup and 10-0 loss against Mobile Christian, things did not improve for ECHS as the Leopards picked up where they left off. Stolen bases and a high-powered offense broke down the Blue Devils and silenced them early. Hasten Dean started on mound for ECHS, lasting 4 innings, allowing 13 hits and 10 runs. Dean managed to strike out 6 batters. Jamrion Robinson led the Blue Devils at bat with 1 hit in 2 appearances at bats. Like the first game, ECHS did not commit any in-field errors, but Mobile Christian racked up a slew of stolen bases. ECHS’s Bradley again claimed honors for the most chances in the field with 6.
After last year’s non-existent season and 2019’s less than pleasing season, ECHS was hopeful that with an improving team, better record and with a second place holding within the standings over the past several weeks, the Blue Devils would have been able to make a post-season appearance for the first time in several years, but that was not the case.
“We will finish the season in third place within the Class 4A, Region 1 standings,” ECHS head coach Roland Hall said. “These two losses against Mobile Christian put us behind St. Michaels in standings. No matter the outcome I am proud of our team and the growth that has taken place this season. I grateful to the support from our faculty, administration, parents and fans. I am blessed to be able to be part of the ECHS family.”
Hall added that without the support of the fans and school, the team would not have been able to make it as far as they have this season. He also contributed a lot of the Blue Devils’ success to assistant coaches Raymond Robinson and Devon Robinson.
ECHS is currently 7-14 on the season record and will travel to face Leflore in double-header action for the last game of the season Thursday, April 22.