By By Matthew Nascone
Justin Rolin worked the count to three balls and two strikes with two outs and the bases loaded in the fifth inning of the Escambia County Blue Devils game against Mobile Christian March 11. He then laced a double to the outfield that cleared the bases and would end up being the game-winning hit for ECHS in a 6-2 victory.
The Devils (8-4) were clinging to a 2-0 lead when Rolin stepped to the plate, but had a 5-0 advantage when he was standing on second.
Rolin, a senior, was 2-for-3 in the game with a double and four RBIs.
Mobile Christian scored their first and only two runs of the game in the sixth inning and ECHS added one insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. ECHS junior pitcher Cody Vickrey (3-2) picked up the win, throwing a complete game and allowing two runs on seven hits. He struck out 10 batters and walked one.
Junior Michael Thomas was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and one walk. Junior catcher Eric Coley was 1-for-2 with a triple, one walk and two runs scored.
The win gave the Devils more wins in the first 12 games of the 2008 season than they had all of the 2007 season.
Bayside 7
Devils 0
Sophomore pitcher Hayden McGill and the Blue Devils were not able to survive the attack of Class 2A No. 5 Bayside Academy March 10 in Atmore, losing 7-0.
McGill (3-2) pitched a complete game, allowing seven runs, three earned, on seven hits, striking out four and walking six.
Bayside scored one in the first inning, five in the second and one in the seventh.
Thomas was 2-for-4 at the plate for ECHS with a double and Rolin again went 2-for-3.
Blue Devils 8
Hillcrest 1
Vickrey threw a no hitter in the second game of a doubleheader against Hillcrest-Evergreen March 7 in Atmore. He allowed one unearned run, struck out 10 batters and walked one.
Coley led the way at the plate, going 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Marshall Rolin was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Senior Elliot Faircloth was 1-for-1 with a triple and two walks. Justin Rolin and senior Kyle Parish were each 1-for-2.
Blue Devils 16
Hillcrest 2
In the first game of the doubleheader with Hillcrest-Evergreen, the Blue Devils smashed the Jaguars 16-2 in five innings.
McGill and freshman Ryan Linam combined to allow two runs, one earned, on two hits on the mound. McGill had four strikeouts and four walks.
At the plate, junior Nico Johnson was 2-for-2 with two doubles, two runs scored and three RBIs. Senior Mitchell Rolin and freshman Marshall Rolin each went 2-for-3. Mitchell Rolin had a double, three runs scored and three RBIs and Marshall Rolin had three runs scored and two RBIs.
McGill was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Justin Rolin was 1-for-2 with a double, three runs scored and two RBIs.
The Blue Devils faced Class 5A No. 4 Spanish Fort (10-3) and No. 8 UMS-Wright (10-2) in Malbis yesterday and the results will be in an upcoming Advance. Up next for ECHS is the team’s opening Region 1, Area 1 game against Jackson at home March 20. First pitch for the JV game is set for 4 p.m.