By By ROBERT BLANKENSHIP
Advance Managing Editor
After defeating Fairhope in an earlier matchup, the Escambia County Lady Blue Devils fell to them in the championship game of the Fairhope Tournament this past weekend, 4-1.
The Lady Devils reached the championship game in dramatic fashion.
First, they rolled over Murphy-Mobile by a final score of 12-1 to open the tourney. Karen Tillery held Murphy to only two hits and one run, which was unearned. She also struck out eight batters.
Hannah Rigsby went three for four at the plate and drove in six runs for the Lady Devils.
In their second game, also played on Friday, the girls defeated Fairhope by a score of 8-3.
Melissa Jones, who was a workhorse for the Lady Devils throughout the tournament, earned the win as she went six innings, giving up three hits and no earned runs.
Rachel Garrett went two for four at the plate and Hope Riley went one for two with two RBI.
On Saturday, the girls opened up against Foley and hit their first bump as they lost 6-1.
Tillery got a tough loss on mound as she threw a complete game – giving up only six hits and two earned runs.
The Lady Devils' offense was held to only two hits. Natasha Porter went one for two with an RBI and Shanna McMillen also went one for two.
ECHS got right back in the win column as they shut out Opelika in their next game, 3-0.
Jones pitched well again for the Lady Devils as she gave up only three hits, no walks and struck out eight.
Rigsby went one for three at the plate with an RBI and Hope Riley went one for two.
ECHS and Prattville met in the next contest to determine who would move on to the championship game. Neither team gave an inch as they went into extra innings tied 1-1.
Defenses had played splendidly throughout the game. But, with the bases loaded of Lady Devils in the bottom of the eighth, Porter laid down a bunt that was fielded by the pitcher and then misfired to first, allowing Riley to score from third for the victory.
Jones struck out 17 batters in the game and only allowed three hits as she took the win.
But, Fairhope was avenged of their earlier loss by shutting down ECHS,4-1 in the championship game.
The Lady Devils were held to only three hits.
Jones, pitching her third straight game, suffered the loss. She gave up only two earned runs and stuck out six batters.