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Even though Escambia Academy’s varsity baseball team is 3-7 on the season, the Cougars are dialing it in on the diamond.

The Cougars split with Wilcox Academy Tuesday, falling in the first game after gaining an early lead. EA pitcher Jacob Lee threw a no-hitter in the night-cap to help lead the Cougars to a 12-0 win.

Head baseball coach Malcolm Hawthorne said his team’s record doesn’t tell the whole picture.

“There are a lot of easy mistakes you can fix by focusing,” Hawthorne said. “We’re going to dial it in.”

Hawthorne said in the second game against Wilcox, the team locked in and played well behind Lee.

“When Jacob Lee is on the mound, there’s a little bit of a different team you get,” he said. “I’ve seen it twice this year, the confidence you have when you have your ace on the mound. It shows in the bats, the want to and on the field overall.”

Hawthorne said some things the team can improve on includes focus and finishing.

“As far as things we do well, they love each other,” he said. “They’re good teammates to each other.”

This season, EA has a solid pitching staff in Lee, Carson Wilson, Luke Bell, Christian Crooks, Sam Daugherty and Cameron Bryan. Behind the plate, Crook, Lee, Wilson and Bell are making contact.

The Cougars will be back in action next weekend in the Monroe Tournament on March 24-25.

“Tournament play is important, just as much as any other game,” Hawthorne said. “We need to have great at bats because next week is going to be region play.”