By By Lindsey Sherrill
Staff Writer
Since March 11 the Escambia Academy Cougars have played four games and had five canceled due to rain.
On March 11 the Cougars were defeated by Monroe Academy 6-3. Buckie Dawson pitched for the Cougars. Jace Beasley led the team in offense as he went 2-2 with two RBI and a walk. Bradford Price and Josh Morgan each went 1-3 with one run and one walk, and Steven Shirley was 1-4 with one RBI and one run scored.
On March 21, the Cougar defeated Evangel Christian at home. Steven Shirley pitched in the 14-4 victory over the Lions. Cole Norton led the offense, going 3-4 with three runs scored and one RBI. Cody White and Price each went 2-4. Price scored two runs with one RBI while White scored three runs with one RBI. Shirley was 1-1 with two RBI and one run scored, Morgan was 1-1 with two runs scored and one RBI, and Beasley was 2-1 with one run scored.
The Cougars were defeated on the road on April 1 as they faced Lowndes Academy. Dawson pitched in the 4-3 loss. Josh Morgan scored two runs and Billy McCann scored one run. The team had a total of only five hits. White led in hits, going 3-2. Dawson pitched six innings, allowed four hits and allowed no earned runs while walking three and striking out seven.
On April 5 the Cougars lost to Fort Dale Academy in a game in which they dominated 7-1 until the fifth inning. EA scored three runs in the first inning with a leadoff double by Price, and singles by Morgan, Dawson, and Beasley. Shirley also had a RBI sacrifice. Fort Dale scored one run in the second inning on a fielder's choice.
Neither team scored in the third inning. In the fourth inning, Morgan, Dawson, McCann, and White scored for the Cougars. Fort Dale did not score.
Fort Dale began the fifth inning by scoring six runs on three errors and three walks to tie the game. The Cougars were unable to score in the inning.
EA remained scoreless throughout the remaining two innings. Fort Dale scored once more in the seventh to make the final score 8-7, Fort Dale.
Escambia's record now stands at 2-3 for the season. The Cougars will face Jackson Academy Monday on the road.
The Cougars have just under three weeks left in the regular season before postseason play starts in the playoffs, meaning the next few games will be crucial to the chances of EA reaching the playoffs.