After battling through a difficult 2024 season that featured numerous roster reshufflings and injuries, the East Marion Eagles wrapped up its district slate with a series split against Salem.
Starting pitcher Shemar Akins weathered an early storm for the Eagles on the mound by shutting Salem down after the third inning in the April 9 meeting at East Marion. He gave up four runs in the first inning and an inside-the-park home run to lead off the third, but he only allowed two more hits in his final four innings of his complete game start, striking out four batters against three walks.
A pair of two-run doubles in the bottom of the third inning brought East Marion back into the game, first by Caiden Belton and then by Larry Thompson two batters later to make it a 5-4 game. The Eagles then took the lead for good in the next inning, once again on a two-run double. Eighth-grader Bentley Blansett drilled a double to left field to score Kaiden Nelson to tie the game 5-5 and Akins to take a 6-5 lead. Blansett, who finished 3-for-4 at the plate with 3 RBI, then plated another run in the bottom of the sixth inning to give East Marion a 7-5 lead that proved to be the final score.
The Eagles (4-21) fell to Salem on the road Friday, though, in a high-scoring 20-11 affair to conclude their season.
