After finally getting some of their best players back from the state champion basketball team, the Eagles are back on the diamond.
East Marion (0-3, 0-2) got its season started March 9 in a 14-6 loss to Jeff Davis County. Head coach Mandell Echols went with Titus Parker on the mound with Vashon Sims and Devin Daniels just joining the team from basketball the day before, and the junior struggled and didn’t record an out. He gave up five runs (four earned) on four walks and one hit.
After falling behind 5-0, seventh-grader Kyler “Smoky” Collins roped a double down the line to score two runs in the third inning before Daniels cleared the bases with a three-run homer to right field, the first of his prep career, to tie the game. The Eagles loaded the bases twice more but struck out to end the inning both times and scored just one run the rest of the game.
“When they get up there in those spots, they just freeze up,” Echols said of hitting with runners on. “I guess it’s just confidence because they don’t play over the summer or in the fall anywhere else.”
Jaquarious Jones pitched the remaining six innings, allowing five earned on five hits and two walks while striking out seven. Jones also had a pair of hits, as did Daniels (4 RBI), Tre Thompson and Ryan Ishman.
In the first game of a doubleheader at Lumberton March 12, the Eagles jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. However, Echols said there were a few controversial calls that didn’t go their way and the players went back to their old ways and hung their heads instead of getting in the fight and lost 15-4.
Daniels drew the start and lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing five earned runs on four hits and five walks. Senior Deiveon Magee stroked a couple hits in his first East Marion action, with Echols saying he was proud of him for sticking with it, and Jones drove in a pair.
In the nightcap, Lumberton raced out to a 12-0 lead through three innings and won 17-4 with the Eagles making eight errors. Echols said he was encouraged by Sims’ progress on the mound despite giving up nine runs on five hits and five walks in two ininngs. He said the sophomore’s velocity was up against Lumberton, but he didn’t have his command yet. However, in a bullpen session later in the week Echols said he had better control of his pitches.
Echols added that freshman lefty Ashton Allred, who is only in his second year playing baseball, pitched well against Lumberton, too. Daniels shined at the dish with three hits and an RBI, and Thompson, Jones and Parker each drove in a run with a hit.
“We played pretty decent, but we just made too many errors,” Echols said.
Echols said the main thing the Eagles need to work on is their concentration. He said too many times they are more concerned with what other players are doing rather than honing in on what their job is on a particular play.
“They have to trust the guys,” he said. “I think we’ll be OK, though. We have a chance to at least come in third (in our district) and make the playoffs.”
The Eagles played Resurrection Catholic in a doubleheader at Pascagoula Tuesday, but results were unavailable at press time. They will play at Mount Olive Thursday before hosting their first game of the year Saturday afternoon in a 1 p.m. contest against Jeff Davis.
