By Staff
Rob Griffin
Playoff time is here again and the Boston Red Sox have defeated their Nemesis, the New York Yankees. Although New York jumped ahead in the series three games to none, Boston ensured that baseball fans as well as Yankee fans would remember the 2004 American League Championship Series forever.
After going down in the first three games to New York, it was time for Boston to put up or shut up. No team in Major League history had ever come back from a 0-3 deficit to win any Championship Series. The Red Sox never quit. With the Yankees certain to sweep, Boston tied game four in the eight inning. David Ortiz came up in the bottom of the twelfth inning and hit a walk-off two-run homerun. In game five "Papi" as Ortiz is called by his Latin teammates, once again got the game winning hit, this time a looping single into centerfield.
Down three games to two going back to New York, Boston needed two more spectacular performances to win the ALCS. Curt Schilling, who everyone thought was out for the reminder of the post-season, started game six. Schilling pitched seven strong innings scattering four hits, allowing a run while striking out four Yankees. It was one of the best performances this post-season. Keith Foulke picked up the save for Boston. In game seven, Derek Lowe and Johnny Damon took over. Lowe pitched six innings giving up a hit and a run. Damon, who would much rather forget the first six games went three for five with two homeruns and six RBIs. Boston never looked back and scored four more runs for a 10-3 rout of New York to put themselves in the World Series for the first time in 18 years.
More importantly, one of our local high school football teams, Escambia Academy, is putting up records of their own. With a stifling defense and explosive offense, EA finds itself making a run to the State Playoffs. The Cougars will be the first seed in the state AISA playoffs.
With a 8-1 overall record so far this season and a 7-0 record in Regional play, they finished out the regular season with a dominating win over Abbeville, meaning homefield advantage in the playoffs.
A big reason why the Cougars are so good this year is because their team is loaded with senior talent and leadership as well as a phenomenal coaching staff. Their work ethic this season has focused on defense. Last season the Cougars defense gave up an average of 30 points per game, but this year they are giving up an average of seven. Erase the loss to Faith Academy in the opener, and the average would be even smaller.
The coaching staff deserves some credit especially head coach Heath Gibson who credits new faces on the coaching staff for the turnaround.With a well balanced team, hopefully Coach Gibson can add a football championship to the EA trophy case.