By By Matthew Nascone
Opening the season with a win is on the mind of every coach of any sport. Jason Barnett can rest easier now, because his Escambia Academy Cougars grabbed that first win Feb. 27 against Fort Dale to the tune of 3-0. Barnett said he was proud of the effort of his team.
"It is always a plus to get that first win," Barnett said. "I think our kids played well and it is always good to get a win like that against a school that is twice your size."
Fort Dale is a AISA Class 3A school and EA is a Class 2A. But Barnett said he was most proud of the play of his defense.
"We did not make one error," he said. "If we can keep playing like that and get the pitching we got out of Tyler, we will be all right when the hitting comes completely around. We played fantastic defense."
And starting pitcher Tyler Brown opened the first 5 2/3 innings about as well as any coach could ask for. He did not allow a hit until the sixth inning and after the one hit, he shut Fort Dale down in the seventh for the shutout.
He threw a complete game shutout with no runs on one hit, 12 strikeouts, two walks and one hit batter.
Kaweta Coon was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two stolen bases. Dustin Hall was 1-for-3 and scored the other Cougar run.
Barnett said the game was basically a confidence booster for his team.
"That was a good team we played," he said. "And anytime you beat a 3A team it is a good thing. And these kids hustled the entire game. We definitely got off on the right foot."
The Cougars participated in a six-team tournament at Patrician Academy Friday and Saturday. The teams involved were EA, Patrician, Clarke Prep, Sumter, South Choctaw and Lamar. The Cougars played at yesterday at 11 a.m.
The next game for the team is Tuesday at Cottage Hill and the first pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.