The ECI Middle School traveled to Metter Saturday to play for the Area Middle School Championship. Coming out of the four seed in the region, the Bulldogs upset the number one seed and 2023 champion Toombs Co. in Lyons in the first round of the playoffs. The Bulldogs shocked the number one seed Toombs Bulldogs, winning the game 12-5 to advance to the second round against Screven Co. The Bulldogs lost to Toombs in the championship game in 2023.
The Gamecocks won both games against ECI in the regular season. The Bulldogs put those two games in their back pocket and pulled another upset in Sylvania, defeating Screven 9-8 to advance to the Championship game against Metter.
The road warriors traveled to Metter Saturday to take on the Tigers in a winner take all championship game. The Bulldogs took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. The Tigers got on the board with a run in the third and led the Bulldogs 5-3 after four innings. The Tigers took what looked like a commanding 7-3 lead entering the seventh and final inning. The Bulldogs jumped on the Tigers for seven runs in the top of the seventh to take a 10-7 lead. Metter tied the game 10-10 in the seventh. With two outs in the inning, the Tigers scored the winning run on a passed ball to take the game 11-10.
Congratulations to Coach Kennedy, Coach Simmons and their scrappy bunch of Bulldogs on their playoff run and earning the region runner-up trophy.
