By By ZACH BROOKS
Sports Writer
The Escambia County High School Blue Devils baseball team got off to a very promising start with last Saturday's split of a double header with Gulf Shores High School.
This year marks the second year in a row that the Blue Devils have opened up their season with a double header against Gulf Shores. Last year's double header was split also, with the Blue Devils winning the first game and Gulf Shores the second.
This year team wanted to come into the double header against Gulf Shores and make a declaration that they would not be denied.
Well, the declaration worked both ways.
The first game started out slow for the Blue Devils as ace starter Chase McGhee did not have his best stuff early and Gulf Shores pounced on him for four runs in the first two innings.
The Blue Devils could not do anything to counter Gulf Shores offensive explosion for the first four innings as they were hold scoreless.
But in the fifth inning the Blue Devils bats came alive. After a big RBI single from catcher Craig Montel to make the score 4-1 the game really started to get interesting.
After the Montel single, good base running and timely bunting put the Blue Devils back in business with the bases loaded and one out. On the next pitch first baseman Aaron Gorum came up with probably the biggest hit of his life, as he stroked a Gulf Shores fast ball deep into the gap in left-centerfield for a three-run double to clear the bases and give the Blue Devils a 5-4 lead.
Gulf Shores could not do anything on offense in the third, fourth, and fifth innings as Chase McGhee finally got his control back. But after the Devils scored one more run in the sixth inning, Gulf Shores tied the game with a two run explosion of their own.
The Blue Devils came up big in the last inning however, as they scored two runs in the final inning. Bobo Patrick came into the game in the final inning to ice the game for the Devils. He did not allow a base runner as he picked up the save in the Blue Devil victory.
Adam Young led the Blue Devils offensively, as he went 3/4 from the plate with one RBI. Aaron Gorum was next for the Blue Devils as he went 2/4 with three RBI's. Craig Montel followed as he went 2/3 with two RBI's. Ryan Daniels also went 2/4 for the Devils.
Chase McGhee got the win on the mound for the Devils. He pitched six innings, allowing seven hits, six runs( three earned), walked three batters, and struck out four.
Bobo Patrick got the save for the Devils. He pitched one inning to notch his first save as a Devil.
The Devils next game will be against Flomaton High School on Tuesday night at 3:30 in Atmore. Admission will be $3.00.