By Staff
Tammy Graham, Advance Staff
The Escambia County High School Blue Devils varsity baseball team began their 2004 season with a heartbreaking loss to Flomaton. The devils had the lead through the fourth inning with left handed junior, Chris Graham(above left), on the mound racking up six strike ours and zero earned runs.
Sophomore Johnathan McNeil relieved Graham in the fourth and racked up two K's and no walks.
Atmore had five hits, one each for Dereke Martin, John Brantley, Franklin Boykin, Trevor Daughtry and Darius English. Flomaton batters piled on the hits late in the game and defeated the Blue Devils 7 to 4.
The second game of the season was played Monday afternoon against a hard charging W. S. Neal team, giving the Devils their second loss, 8 – 0. Graham was agian on the mound and struck out seven and allowed two earned runs. Only four hits were recored, one each for Brantley, Jeremey Rolin, Jeremy Lisenby and Michael Rolin (pictured at left).
Head coach Keith Nall still has faith in his team. "we're not hitting well but I know that we'll come around."
He is also aware of their weakness and plans to work on them during practice."Defensively, we are making too many mistakes both physically and mentally. If we can just play a full game with no mistakes we will be alright." said Nall.