The ECI baseball team advances to the sweet 16 of the state playoffs. The Bulldogs will host Lanier Co. in the best of 3 series in the second round.
ECI swept their first round games against Hawkinsville. They sent the Red Devils back to Pulaski Co. taking the first game 7-1, and closing out the series, winning the second game 13-0.
Both pitchers for the Bulldogs were on top of their game in the double header combing for 27 strikeouts.
Bryce Kearson, throwing the first game, scattered 5 hits while striking out 14 batters with just one walk. Kearson and his defense sat down the first 9 Red Devils with Hawkinsville first hit coming in the fourth inning.
Maybe showing a little off week rust, the Bulldogs got the bats going and put runs on the board in the third and fourth inning to lead 2-0. ECI added to their lead in the fifth on singles by Kearson, Mercer, Boddiford and a double by Lee for a 5-0 score.
Hawkinsville scored their only run of the doubleheader in the top of the sixth. ECI put two more on the board in the sixth to lead 7-1.
The Devils failed to score in the seventh with ECI taking the all-important first game 7-1.
Jacob Durden started on the mound for the Bulldogs in the second game. The senior pitcher threw another Bulldogs no-hitter with just two walks and followed his 16 strikeout outing against Jefferson Co. with a 13 strikeout game against Hawkinsville.
The game was delayed by standing water in the bottom of the sixth inning. The team and coaches worked their magic getting the field in playing conditions during a rain break. Play resumed with a scoreless bottom inning for Hawkinsville and a win for ECI.
The Bulldogs easily took care of the visiting team 13-0 in six innings to advance to the second round of the state playoffs.
Bulldogs with multiple hits during the doubleheader were PJ Farnum and Gabe Lee with 4 hits. Charlie Rehberg closed the day with 3 hits while Kearson and Durden had two hits each.
The competition only gets stronger in the playoffs from here on.
The Bulldogs will host Lanier Co. from Lakeland, Ga in the second round. The Bulldogs from Lanier Co. have a 22-9 season record and are the second seed playing in region 2 and ranked fifth in MaxPreps baseball polls. Their only region losses were to region champion Charlton Co. More about the ECI vs Lanier elsewhere in The Blade.
