By JOSH FRYE
News Sportswriter
Despite an early lead, Escambia Academy Cougars varsity baseball team was robbed of a victory by Wilcox Academy, 7-5, last Thursday, April 8. With the game tied at 5 and the Wildcats batting in the bottom of the sixth, Wilcox’s Parker Phillips singled, scoring 2 runs. The play by Phillips helped launch the Wildcats past EA.
The Cougars took an early lead during the top of the first inning when Randal Bonds drove in Caleb Davis on a single, but Wilcox took command during the bottom of the first, 3. During the second, the Cougars attempted to close the scoring gap with a pair of stolen bases, but the Wildcats scored a pair of runs of their own. The scoreboard remained motionless until the top of the sixth inning, when the Cougars put up another pair of scores from Sims and Parker Robinson, but the tie was broken during the bottom of the inning and Wilcox walked away with a hard-fought victory.
The Wildcats gained 6 hits while EA gained 11. Sims and Davis led the Cougars with 2 runs each while Robinson gained 1. Stevens took the loss on the mound for EA. Stevens allowed 11 hits, surrendered 7 runs, walked 4 batters and struck out 7. The Cougars made 7 errors behind the pitcher.
Comments and details were not made available by EA head coach Mike Sims.
The Cougars will close out the regular season schedule this week against Sparta Academy in Canoe on Tuesday, April 13. Details from that game will be included in next week’s recap.