NIceville tops Choctaw in district action (with PHOTOS)

By TRAVIS DOWNEY

Northwest Florida Daily News
315-4476 | travisd@nwfdailynews.com

NICEVILLE - Two games into what appears to be a tight District 1-5A race, Niceville may have already discovered its stride.

For the second time in as many nights, the Eagles combined stellar pitching and timely hitting to come away with a 3-2 win over Choctawhatchee when senior David Hill smacked a bases-loaded single over a drawn in outfield for the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh.

Click here to view more photos.

The win pushed the Eagles' record to 2-0 in district play and, at least for the time being, placed Niceville atop what could be a back and forth district race.

"This was a big one," Niceville coach Brad Phillips said. "A lot was on the line tonight, this one put somebody in the driver seat, whether they wanted it or not.

"It's going to be a crazy year in the district."

Robert Price threw a two-hitter and recorded the win for Niceville (3-1) by shaking off a first inning run and striking out 10 Choctaw batters, the last of which came in a sixth inning that saw the Indians put runners on first and second. Price responded to the mild threat with a strikeout.

 "He's a scrawny guy that will compete for you 24-7," Niceville third baseman Danny Collins said.

Tied at 2 in the bottom of the sixth, Niceville loaded the bases against Choctaw reliever Mykal Bailey with nobody out when Ben DeVall was struck by a pitch, but pinch hitter Michael Wells then grounded into a double play.

Bailey then struck Kyle Kennedy with a pitch to reload the bases before retiring Chase Darhower on a ground ball to escape the inning without allowing the go-ahead run to cross the plate.

Frustrated as they were, players in the Niceville dugout smelled blood.

"We had momentum on our side," Collins, who finished with a home run and a double, said. "We wanted to keep it going."

Sensing as much, Price did his part, retiring Choctaw in order in the seventh.

"I wanted to get in and get out," Price said. "I wanted to get my batters back in as soon as possible."

Jordan Demos hit a one-out single to left and stole second base before catcher A.J. Gomez reached on a throwing error. Collins was issued an intentional walk, brining up Hill, who had gone 0-for-2 while reaching on catcher's interference.

After fouling off a tough 1-2 offering from Bailey, Hill jumped on the next pitch, sending an arching shot to the wall in left center field to knock in the game winner.

"I knew I had to get the job done," Hill said. "I just told myself it's got to get done."

After spending all of the preseason preaching the importance of pushing runners over and working the count, Phillips said the Eagles' entrance into district play has offered both he and his team a glimpse of what is possible.

"The last two nights have been fun," Phillips said. "This is the style of ball we can play. We've been working on it and to see it executed in a game is fun to watch."

Choctaw 100 010 0  222

Niceville  100 100 1  340

W: Robert Price L: Ryan Kelly