Michael Thompson turned in another strong performance on the mound for the Escambia Academy Cougars at home last Thursday in Canoe.

Thompson pitched a complete game of seven innings striking out nine batters, while only walking two and giving up two hits to lead the Cougars (10-3) to an 8-1 victory over the South Choctaw Rebels.

The blowout started in the third inning with the Cougars jumping out to a 3-0 lead thanks to a hit by Clayton Dyess (1-for-3, RBI, R, 2B) and a fielder’s choice by Reid Bell (0-for-3, RBI). Dyess’ hit was the big one of the inning, as he connected on a one-run double.

Escambia Academy held their lead at three until the fifth inning when they added a run to pull ahead 4-0.

South Choctaw put its only run on the board in the top of the sixth inning, as the Jacob Bakane (0-for-3, R) crossed the plate on one of the Cougars’ five errors in the contest.

Cole Boatwright (1-for-3, 2RBI, R) helped the Cougars get things going in the bottom of the sixth inning ripping a two-run single that led to the beginning a four-run inning that put EA ahead by the final of 8-1.

The Cougars next game will be Saturday on the road at Pensacola Christian Academy in Pensacola, Fla. Games begin at noon with the junior varsity. The varsity game will follow at 2 p.m.

EA 14, ACS 2
For the second time in as many weeks, the Escambia Academy Cougars earned a dominating victory over the Atmore Christian Rams last Monday in Canoe.

The Cougars racked up 10 hits in the game to come away with a 14-2 victory.

Leadoff batter Braxton Chastang was the leader offensively for the Cougars in the win going 1-for-4 with two RBIs.

Escambia Academy jumped out in front of the Rams early scoring five runs in the bottom of the second and following that up with three in the third inning.

Leading 8-0, the Cougars again extended their lead in the fourth and fifth innings scoring six runs between the two frames of the contest.

The Rams finally got on the board in the top of the sixth inning with William Swartzendruber (0-for-2, R) and Brooks Hart (1-for-3, R) crossing the plate where the game would be called on a 10-run rule. Hart was knocked in by Jonathan Bender’s (1-for-3, RBI) single.

With hits easy to come by in the Cougars’ win, Austin McGhee was the leader at the plate going 2-for-2 with an RBI.

Jarrett Hadley and Reid Bell each went 1-for-3 in the contest, with Bell recording an RBI. Michael Thompson, Cole Boatwright and Cameron McGhee each hit 1-for-2 for EA, while Nate Smith and Brett Gorum each went 1-for-1.

On the mound, Hadley picked up the win pitching four innings striking out five batters.