By By Chandler Myers
Playoffs became a distant dream for the Escambia County Blue Devils as they were crushed 14-6 by the Gulf Shores Dolphins on Saturday in Gulf Shores.
The Blue Devils (9-16, 3-6) lost the game after giving up 11 runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to the Dolphins.
Blue Devils head coach David Hill said his team was feeling good and that things just unraveled late in the game.
Before the Blue Devils fell behind Gulf Shores they had started the game strong scoring three runs to open the game.
They followed up with one run in the second inning, one score in the fourth inning and their final run in the sixth inning.
Hill said that his team was making plays and hitting the ball well.
Leading the Blue Devils were Marshall Rolin and Ryan Linam who each hit 2-for-4 in the contest. Rolin also pitched one inning giving up four runs on two hits and two walks.
Nick Flowers hit 1-for-2 in the game, while Cody Brown, Eric Coley and Nico Johnson all went 1-for-3 at the plate in the loss.
Jacob Rackard also got a hit for ECHS going 1-for-4 in Gulf Shores.
Justin Stabler started the game on the mound for ECHS and pitched five innings giving up 10 runs on 12 hits.
The Blue Devils final game is Thursday at home against Flomaton at 6 p.m.
Gulf Shores 16
ECHS 8
A five-run fifth inning could not help the Escambia County Blue Devils stop the Gulf Shores Dolphins as they were doubled up on 16-8 in the second game of a doubleheader at home.
The Blue Devils (9-15, 3-5) battled their way back from an early 5-2 deficit to take a 7-5 lead going into the visitor’s half of the sixth inning.
Escambia County head coach David Hill said after coming back the team started getting excited about the game.
The sixth and seventh innings marked huge scoring runs for the Dolphins as they added five to their total in the sixth and six more runs in the final inning.
ECHS tried to fight back, but could only manage one more run to give Gulf Shores the eight-run victory.
Hill said the Dolphins did a good job of hitting their marks all over the field.
Nick Flowers paced the team from the leadoff spot hitting 4-for-5 in the loss.
Maurice White and Marshall Rolin each ripped two hits in the game with White going 2-for-3 and Rolin hitting 2-for-5.
Other Blue Devils to record hits included Ryan Linam (1-for-2), Haden McGill (1-for-3) and Eric Coley (1-for-4).
Gulf Shores 10
ECHS 1
Escambia County was routed 10-1 in Game 1 of a doubleheader with the Gulf Shores Dolphins at Tom Byrne Park on Friday.
The Blue Devils (9-14, 3-4) had a hard time keeping the Dolphins off the base path as they recorded five hits and six walks in the seven-inning match up.
Blue Devils head coach David Hill said his team just got overmatched in the afternoon game.
The Blue Devils lone run came in the fifth inning, but miscues and lack of hits prevented them from scoring more.
Several Blue Devils recorded hits in the loss including Haden McGill (1-for-2), Jacob Rackard (1-for-3), Eric Coley (1-for-3), Michael Thomas (1-for-4), Marshall Rolin (1-for-4) and Nick Flowers (1-for-3).
McGill started the game on the mound giving up 10 runs (six earned) and sending six Dolphins down on strikes.