By By Chandler Myers
The Cougars of Canoe were narrowly beaten by the Pickens Pirates 4-3 on Thursday at home.
Pickens managed to escape with the win with a big fifth inning in which they scored all four of their runs.
Before Pickens grabbed the lead, the Cougars had held a slim 1-0 lead that they snatched in the third inning when Jarrett Hadley made it around the base path. Hadley scored after Keaton Maher ripped a single into right field.
Hadley went 1-for-3 in the loss with a single and two runs scored, while Maher went 1-for-3 with a single and an RBI.
After Pickens took the lead 4-1, the Cougars managed to score two more runs with Hadley and Jon Dean crossing the plate before the Pirates ended the game in the sixth inning.
Dean went hitless in the loss, but reached base on two walks.
Cougars senior pitcher Nick Mills started the game and pitched a complete game giving up four runs on five hits and one walk. He also sent seven Pirates down on strikes.
Pirates 3
Cougars 2
Escambia Academy lost the first game of its doubleheader with the Pickens Pirates 3-2 in Canoe on Thursday.
The Cougars never led in the game after the Pirates took a 2-0 lead in the third inning.
In the fifth inning the Cougars scored their first run with senior Jeff Price crossing the plate after James dean knocked a single into right field.
Price hit 1-for-3 in the loss with a single and a run scored. Dean was 2-for-3 with two singles and an RBI.
The Academy tied the game at two in the sixth inning when Braxton Chastang made it around the base path. He scored on Jarrett Hadley’s single. Chastang was hitless with a walk, while Hadley hit 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Price started the game for the Cougars pitching seven innings and giving up three runs on four hits. He also struck out 11 Pirates in the loss.
Cougars 2
Meadowview 1
A win is a win and the Escambia Academy Cougars picked up a close one in a 2-1 victory over the Meadowview Trojans on Tuesday in Canoe.
The Cougars managed to pick up the win in the final inning when Cameron McGhee crossed home plate to end the game. McGhee scored on Dustin Brown’s sacrifice fly. McGhee and Brown were each hitless in the game with McGhee getting a walk and Brown an RBI.
Before the game-winning run crossed the plate, the Trojans had taken an early lead when their leadoff man scored after slapping a single to left field.
Their lead would not last as the Cougars scored in the fourth inning with Jeff Price crossing the plate. Price reached base with a single and scored on James Dean’s single to right field.
Price was 1-for-3 at the plate with a run scored, while Dean was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Cougars pitcher Nick Mills started the game and pitched four innings giving up one run on one hit, while striking out five batters. Price came into the game in relief action and pitched three innings striking out five Trojans.
Cougar Jon Dean was the only other EA player to record a hit in the win.