By By Chandler Myers
Three runs in the top of the seventh inning did not hamper the Blue Devils’ efforts against the Hillcrest Jaguars as they beat the visiting team 13-10 behind the pitching of Nico Johnson.
Johnson pitched a complete game, giving up four earned runs on five hits and four walks. He also sent 12 Jaguars down swinging in the win.
The Blue Devils (6-12, 0-3) controlled the game early on jumping out early to 4-0 lead, but allowed the Jaguars to creep back into the game with three runs in both the second and third innings to take a 6-6 tie into the fourth inning.
Blue Devils head coach David Hill said his team’s strong start really pleased him.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Blue Devils took control of the game and added five more runs to their total to take an 11-6 lead. They kept the scoring going in the fifth inning as they sealed their win with two more runs and a commanding 13-6 lead.
The Jaguars made a late push scoring one run in the sixth and three more in the seventh, but it was too late as the Blue Devils defense tightened up and got three important outs.
Hill said the win was huge for his team because it started a winning streak that is instilling confidence in his players.
Offensively the Blue Devils were led by Ryan Linam and Marshall Rolin who combined for a 4-for-6 day at the plate. Nick Flowers hit 1-for-3 in the game as did teammates Michael Thomas, Eric Coley and Haden McGill. Blue Devil Maurice White went 1-for-4 in the win.
ECHS 10
Hillcrest 0
The Blue Devils broke their losing streak and picked up a huge win in a 10-0 shutout of the Hillcrest Jaguars at Tom Byrne Park.
The Blue Devils (5-12, 0-3) picked up the win behind six innings of pitching by Justin Stabler. Stabler sent five Jaguars down swinging, while giving up two hits and walking three.
Blue Devils head coach David Hill said breaking a losing streak was a great thing for his team.
ECHS started and ended the game strong, which had been a problem the team had faced throughout the season.
They started with one run in the first followed by three in the second and one more in the third to jump out to a 5-0 lead.
To start the fifth inning, the Blue Devils added one more run before scoring four in the home half of the sixth inning to 10-run rule the Jaguars.
Hill said he was excited about how much offense his team put out in the win.
Haden McGill paced the Blue Devils going a perfect 2-for-2 in the win. McGill’s teammate Ryan Linam had a strong performance going 2-for-3 at the plate for ECHS.
Other Blue Devils to record hits include Nick Flowers (1-for-4), Marshall Rolin (1-for-3), Eric Coley (1-for-2) and Cody Brown (1-for-3).