The Eagles are still without a win to begin the season but have flashed potential through three games this year.
East Marion (0-3) played host to Richton Friday a week after losing a heartbreaker 11-10 to Sacred Heart and had one bad inning cost it in an 11-6 loss. The Eagles led 3-1 through three innings, but the Rebels scored six runs in the fourth to pull out in front.
Head coach Mandell Echols said he likes the way his team has been fighting to start the season, but mental errors continue to take their toll on the Eagles. He said they continue to have one inning in every game where everything goes awry and keeps them from notching their first win.
“We just have a mental breakdown. We can’t have those innings and win close games,” he said. “It’s some of the younger guys not covering the bag when the ball is hit and two-out walks. In our last two games, we’ve walked two or three people each time with two outs and they end up scoring off those. That’s been hurting us.”
Echols added East Marion has to change its mentality on the mound with two outs. He said it’s like they get comfortable and relaxed with two outs rather than continuing to attack batters.
“Derrius Peters did a real good job up until the (fourth) inning, and he hit like three people with two outs. Then we made two or three errors behind him, then he walked a couple more and I had to pull him. But he did a great job. The score was 3-1 and they got that one off errors.”
At the dish Echols said the Eagles are starting to become more aggressive and are putting the ball in play more, but they have a tendency to freeze up with runners in scoring position.
“I’m not disappointed in the losses. I see them growing,” he said.
The Eagles will play at Lumberton Friday night before beginning Region 8-2A competition Tuesday at St. Patrick (4-7, 2-0).
