By By ROBERT BLANKENSHIP
Advance Managing Editor
The Escambia County High School Blue Devils used a big third inning to help capture a victory against T.R. Miller Saturday, 10-5.
The game was a stalemate up to the third as neither team could get their offenses going. But, the Blue Devils broke through with five runs in the top of the inning to take a lead that they would hold through the rest of the game.
T.R. Miller came back with one run in the bottom of the third to make the score 5-1.
The Blue Devils kept the momentum going in the top of the fourth as they brought two more runners around to score and then added another in the fifth to take a 8-1 lead.
Miller finally got hot at the plate in the bottom of the fifth as they scored four runs to get them back in the game, 8-5.
However, ECHS scored two more runs in the top of the sixth and then held Miller scoreless in the bottom of the inning to seal the victory.
Keith Bell earned the win on the mound for the Blue Devils as he threw seven innings, giving up five hits, three earned runs, six walks and one strikeout.
Leading the Devils at the plate was Bell who went two for three with three RBI, Traveis Guy went two for for with one RBI and Jared Carlton went two for five with one RBI.
The victory gives the Blue Devils an overall record of 5-8.
Baseball coach Keith Nall said the Blue Devils are beginning to get over a slump that has plagued them the past two weeks.
The timing is perfect for ECHS to start playing better as they begin playing more area games from now through the rest of the season.
The Devils are 0-1 in area play now. The top two area teams will advance to the state playoffs at the end of the season.
The Blue Devils will travel to participate in the Monroeville Tournament this weekend. On Friday, they will begin play at 5 p.m. The time for Saturday's game will be determined.