By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor
MOODY – After having a good week at the beach and going 3-1 in the Gulf Coast Challenge, the Blue Devils came back home to take on Ramsay, North Jackson and Westbrook Christian, going 3-1 over the course of the four games.
Tuesday started the stretch with a trip to Ramsay. The Blue Devils trounced the Rams 17-0 in the outing. Moody scored early, putting up five in the first, seven in the second and five more in the third before calling off the dogs and going scoreless for the next three innings. Bryant Hardin went four innings from the mound, allowing a single hit, no runs and striking out four. JP Sands pitched the final inning giving up no runs and no hits. At the plate, Noah Landers, Drew Brown, and Colby Graves all had two RBI each.
Thursday, the Blue Devils welcomed those same Rams to 411 with similar results to those from Tuesday. The Blue Devils won 12-2 over Ramsay at home. Ramsay jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first before Moody put up three in the bottom. After a scoreless second, Ramsay got another run across the plate but then Moody poured on seven runs in the bottom of the third. The Blue Devils would shut out Ramsay for the remainder of the game while adding two runs in the bottom of the fifth to finish things off. Landon Cherry got the win, going four innings and allowing four hits and two runs while retiring five batters. Cole Self came in to finish the game, allowing no hits nor runs and striking out one. Blaine Burke went two of three at the plate and drove in two runs while Cherry went a perfect two for two and drove in three. Braden Wright added two RBI, going two of four.
The Blue Devils took on North Jackson on Saturday in the first of two games on the day and walked away with a 4-0 loss. North Jackson had a run in the first, two in the second and got their final run of the game in the seventh.
In the weekend finale, the Blue Devils looked to rebound against Westbrook Christian on Saturday, and rebound they did. Moody put up two in each of the first two innings and added another run in the fifth to seal the 5-0 victory over the Westbrook Christian. Ashton Morrow went the distance, allowing just two hits and zero runs while striking out five batters. Cherry continued his great week with a two of three performance, driving in two runs. Burke and Landers added an RBI each. This win also clinched a playoff berth for the Blue Devils.
Moody head coach Eamonn Kelly said the following about his team’s 3-1 week, “Our pitching staff has done an excellent job over the last week. Of course, scoring runs is important, but being able to hold opponents to few or little runs is huge. I am really proud of how they are continuing to improve and it’s showing in the win/loss column.”
The Blue Devils are playing good baseball headed into the final stretch of the season as they sit at 16-12 overall. Moody has a trio of games against Leeds this week as they travel to take on the Greenies Tuesday and welcome them for a doubleheader on Thursday when Moody will celebrate 411 Day for the second year in a row. Moody will cap off the week Saturday with a trip to Briarwood Christian.