Seahawks win three in a row

The Seahawks varsity baseball team have been handling the month of March like lions, with no intention of going out like lambs, as they raised their record to 7-1 with three straight wins, including a pair over Godby/

On March 8 at Wewahitchka, the team put up nine runs in the top of the first and held on for a 14-2 triumph over the Gators.

Senior Gage Boone and senior Garrison Cook combined for three-hitter. Starter Boone struck out five and gave up no hits in three innings of work, and helped his cause by bringing out a double in the first-inning rally. Cook pitched the last three innings to pick up the save, also striking out five.

“This was a district game where we came out and worked some walks early and got a few hits and scored nine runs in the first,” said Coach Kevin Cox. “That’s really what you want to see when you go on the road. 

“Another positive in the game was that every player in the lineup had at least one hit with senior Will Varnes and junior Dane Mallon having two hits apiece,” said the coach. “This was a good win, against a district team that we could end up playing in the tournament at the end of season.”

On March 16 at home against Godby, Cox’s squad won 11-1, despite managing only a half-dozen hits

“This was a game where we came out again and scored runs early,” said Cox, as his team put up three runs in the first and again in the second, and four in the third. “This was really good to see, especially after we had a mini-break with two games pushed back to later in the season due to rain.

Sophomore Cody Abercrombie took the mound and pitched well, going four innings, giving up just two hits and one run while striking out seven. 

“We didn’t get a bunch of hits at the plate as we need to be more disciplined,” said Cox. “But when we got them we bunched them together and made them count. “

Junior Evan Stanley went 2 for 3 while Cody Abercrombie, Varnes, Boone, and junior Chase Crum each one. Boone had three RBIs, while Abercrombie and Varnes each had two.

The next day, March 17 at Godby, the Seahawks banged out eight hits and trained 6-3 going into the seventh and final inning, where they erupted for eight runs.

“This was a game where we did not swing the bat well, and really struggled all night until the seventh,” said Cox. “ But we pitched well enough to let us hang around until the bats came alive in the seventh.”

Junior Dane Mallon got the start and gave up six runs, two of them earned, and struck out eight in four-and-one-third innings of work. “Godby took advantage of the few mistakes we made and got some timely hits to put a lot of pressure on us,” said Cox. “For six innings it really felt like we were not disciplined at the plate and it really came down to us being in the right part of our lineup and taking quality at bats in the seventh.

Cody Abercrombie got the final inning rally started with a walk and then Varnes, Boone and Crum all followed with hits. “That seemed to break open the floodgates,” said Cox.

After a sacrifice bunt by senior center fielder Blakely Curry moved the go-ahead runner to third, Stanley doubled to right and for the lead. “We never looked back,” said Cox.

Crum came on in relief, going two-and-two-thirds innings, striking out five with only one walk and no hits, no runs. 

“It was a good comeback win and shows we have the capability to come from behind late,” said Cox. “A good sign as we hit the heart of our schedule coming up against some real quality teams.”