EA wins first 2 home games after 0-2 start
By PATRICK BYRD
News Sports Writer
The Escambia Academy Cougars began their baseball season Saturday, February 25, with the Sparta Invitational Tournament. The team played two games, starting with a 9-3 loss to Monroe Academy, followed by a 6-5 loss to Sparta Academy.
The Cougars played their first home game Monday, February 27, against the Lighthouse Christian Stingrays.
During the bottom of the first, Christian Crook scored the first Cougar run after an error by the Lighthouse catcher, followed by a home run by Jacob Lee, which also brought in Carson Wilson. Blake Hardy quickly brought in Charlie Sasser, and Hardy later stole home while Cameran Bryan was at bat. The score was 5-0 at the end of the inning.
In the bottom of the second, Crook stole home to score another run for the Cougars. Lee and Sasser were both brought in with an inside-the-park home run by Hardy. The score at the end of the inning was 9-0.
The top of the third saw the Stingrays score their first run of the game. They continued to score 2 more runs throughout the inning. The bottom of the inning saw another run by the Cougars. The score was 10-3 at the end of the third.
The top of the fourth saw Lighthouse score another run. In the bottom half of the inning for the Cougars, Lee stole home while Sasser was at bat, who scored another run after a hit by AJ Bennet. McGee brought in Hardy and Bennet for 2 more runs. McGee and Crook were brought in on a double by Luke Bell. Lee brought Wilson and Bell in before being brought in himself by Hardy. Sasser was brought in by Bennet before the end of the inning, giving the Cougars a 20-4 win over Lighthouse.
The Cougars played Fort Dale Academy at home on Tuesday, February 28, winning 12-1.
The team traveled to Lowndes Academy for the Lowndes Academy Invitational Tournament. The first game on Thursday, March 2, saw a 9-1 loss for the Cougars against Edgewood Academy, and Friday, March 3, saw an 8-6 loss against Abbeville Christian Academy in the Tournament.
The Cougars played Tuesday, March 7, at Monroe Academy, followed by a game Friday, March 10, at Fort Dale Academy.