Destin Middle School beats Ruckel in baseball, but softball team falls

The Destin Marlins split on the diamond Monday with the baseball team securing a 12-4 victory over the Ruckel Rams of Niceville and the softball team falling 11-6 in middle school action. 

“It was an all eighth-grade rally ... everyone played great on both sides of the ball,” Destin Baseball Coach Matt Cawthon said. 

“We had a couple of extra big hits from Connor Job and Case Culhane,” he said, noting all the boys swung the bat well. 

Others connecting for two hits each were Ethan Thomas, McCarver Dahlman and Chad Stephens. 

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Destin jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the first three innings, but the fourth inning was the turning point. After holding the Rams scoreless in the top, Destin scored five runs on walks and errors and one big blast from Job to right field for a grand slam. Destin led 10-2. 

The Marlins finished with one run in the fifth on a solo homer to center by Culhane, and one more run in the sixth. 

“Cooper Smith and Bentley Bailey both made huge defensive plays to get us out of the innings. We’re playing good baseball right now,” Cawthon said. 

With the win, the Marlins moved to 4-1 on the season. 

In girls' softball, the Lady Marlins played hard but did not have the outcome they were hoping for, losing to Ruckel 11-6. 

Nevertheless, Coach Kati O’Brian was proud of the effort. 

More:Destin Marlins shutout Pryor Pirates on the diamond

“I was really proud of our girls for battling the entire game. They were down 0-5 in the first inning and did not let it get to them. They knew they had to go to work,” O’Brian said. 

Destin came back and scored three in the bottom half. 

“We hit really well,” she said, noting they connected for 14 total hits on the day. 

Peyton McKissack batted .1000 with two singles and a double. Leighton Gordon hit a double and single. Macy Borgen, Charley Hagood and Ansley Cox had two singles each, while Khloe Mixon and Ava Blankenship each hit a single. 

“Ava Blankenship showed true mental toughness and determination in the circle,” O’Brian said. 

Blankenship had seven strikeouts. 

“I was extremely proud of her response after the homerun hit off her in the fifth. She didn’t let it eat her lunch and continued to battle,” she said. 

“The girls were resilient and fought until the end,” O’Brian said. 

“We know what we need to work on at practice and are excited for the next rivalry showdown,” she said. 

Destin will meet Ruckel again on April 10 in Niceville.