ECI Baseball battles through tough schedule

By Justin Gray

The ECI Bulldogs headed down to Lakepoint Baseball Complex to play in the Georgia Dugout Tournament. In this tournament, the Bulldogs took on some tough, higher class competition.

Game one was played Friday, February 17 against Starr’s Mill (4A) and they were defeated 13-7. The Bulldogs swung the bats well in the defeat, a highlight at the plate was Freshman Tuff Boddiford going 3-4 with a run scored.

Next up was two games the following day against East Paulding (6A) and Greater Atlanta Christian School (5A). The first was down to the wire as the Bulldogs took down East Paulding 2-1 in eight innings. Seniors Lawson Mercer and Bryce Kearson both dominated the game on the mound as they went a combined eight innings with seven strikeouts, surrendering only three hits and one run. Sophomore Gabe Lee led the way at the plate with two of the team’s six hits. This was a huge win for the Bulldogs over a school that is six classifications higher than them, not to mention East Paulding has opened the season with a 4-1 record as well.

Game three, the final game of the weekend, was a struggle to get the bats going as the Dawgs were shut down by Greater Atlanta Christian, losing 4-0 and being held to only one hit. The pitching for the Dawgs looked great as Junior Charlie Rehberg and Senior Jacob Durden combined for seven innings allowing only three earned runs.

The Bulldogs are back in action this Saturday, February 25 for the Citizens Bank Tournament in Swainsboro, taking on South Effingham at 12:30 P.M. and Swainsboro at 5:30 P.M.

McQuiag Concentrates to make the catch

Senior Mercer at the plate