By By ROBERT BLANKENSHIP
Advance Managing Editor
A loss to Robertsdale this week has cost the Escambia County Blue Devils' baseball team a chance to participate in the state playoffs.
The Blue Devils secured a victory over Hillcrest on Apr. 12, 13-3.
ECHS scored five runs in the first inning, three in the second, one in the third, two in the fourth and two more in the bottom of the sixth en route to the victory. Hillcrest scored all three of the runs in the top of the third.
Leading hitters for the Blue Devils were Traveis Guy, who went two for two with two RBIs, Matt Patrick, one for four with one RBI, Adam Young, one for two with one RBI, and Craig Montel, who hit a double.
Mark Rodgers earned the victory on the mound for the Devils. He threw three innings, allowing only one hit, no walks and three runs – none of which were earned. He struck out five Hillcrest batters.
Young pitched the final three innings of the game and gave up only one hit and one walk while striking out seven.
On Apr. 13, Escambia County lost the first of two contests within one week against area opponent Robertsdale, 11-1.
Two homeruns in the middle of the contest led to the defeat as Robertsdale scored four in the bottom of the third and six in the fourth.
ECHS only came away with three hits.
Chase McGhee pitched three-and-one-thirds innings allowing 10 hits and eight earned runs. Keith Bell came on and pitched one-and-two-thirds innings. He surrendered one hit, one earned run and three walks. He had one strike out.
On Tuesday, the Blue Devils got back in the win column as they destroyed Blount, 17-2.
The Devils scored three in the bottom of the first, seven in the second, five in the third and three in the fourth to bury Blount.
Jared Carlton led the way at the plate as he went two for two with three RBIs. John Rehorn went three for three with two RBIs and Mark Rodgers went two for three with one RBI.
Sir Williams earned the victory on the mound as he pitched five innings, giving up one hit, two runs and three walks. He earned nine strike outs.
With a playoff spot at risk, the Blue Devils needed a win against Robertsdale on Wednesday. They were not able to pull it off though as they lost again to Robertsdale, 6-2.
Robertsdale scored four in the top of the fourth and two in the sixth to defeat the Devils.
Franklin Boykin went two for three and scored one run to lead the Blue Devils at the plate.
Mark Rodgers went two for three and Keith Bell went one for two with one RBI.
Bell also pitched the entire game giving up nine hits, five earned runs and two walks. He had two strike outs.
The loss dropped the Blue Devils to 2-4 in the area and meant their season would end with the regular season.
The Blue Devils dropped a close one in extra innings against W.S. Neal on Thursday, 4-1.
Each team scored one run in the sixth inning and the scored remained 1-1 until the top of the eighth when Neal came away with three runs to secure the victory.
Traveis Guy went one for three and scored while Bell went one for four to lead ECHS at the plate.
Chase McGhee pitched all eight innings, surrendering only one earned run on six hits and four walks. He struck out 10 Neal batters.
The Blue Devils have an overall record of 11-14.
Their final game of the season will be on Monday as they host T.R. Miller at 6 p.m.