Cougars gain split in series with win over Indians, Henry injured

Brandon Dawson held the Indians hitless for almost five innings until Austin Jones reached with a double. Dawson would allow four hits overall and record six strikeouts in the 6-2 win.

Devin Henry went 2-for-3 at the plate and deliver four RBIs before leaving the game in the top of the sixth inning with a leg injury.

SHARPSBURG-Brandon Dawson pitched a four-hitter and Devin Henry had four RBIs but at a price as the Newnan Cougars gained a split in their three-game Region 3-AAAAAA series Thursday night after a 6-2 victory over the East Coweta Indians.
The Cougars improved to 17-4 overall and regained a tie with the Indians (20-2) for first place in the region at 10-1 with the deciding game at Joe Pope Field scheduled for Friday at 6:00 but it is expected to rain in Newnan and the game could be pushed to Saturday.
Newnan had a chance to have get to Indians starter Austin Bellamy with one out in the top of the second inning as Dawson reached on a walk while Charles Reeves and Rodney Tennie reached on singles to load the bases.
The opportunity for Newnan to get on the scoreboard almost came to nothing as courtesy runner Drew Morris was forced at the plate after a ball hit by Jake Kniedel was hit to Indians first baseman Matthew Meyer who came home with a throw to catcher Austin Jones.
However, the Cougars were able to get on the scoreboard as Reeves scored from third on a passed ball while Tennie and Kniedel advanced a base for Henry who was at the plate when the run scored.
Henry, who is known more for his great speed, delivered with some power as he lined a double to left scoring both Tennie and Kniedel to give the Cougars a 3-0 lead.
Benefitting from the lead was Dawson who held the Indians in check as he retired the first 11 batters in order until Cole Antmann reached on an infield error in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The Indians finally recorded a base hit with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning when Jones doubled to left field and almost had another hit as Travis Williams lined a shot to right field only to be denied by Henry who used his speed to get to the ball.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Cougars added to the lead as Dawson reached first after being hit by a pitch and Tennie followed with a one out double.
Kniedel followed by reaching first on a walk to load the bases then Henry singled to bring home Morris, who was running for Dawson, and Tennie to give the Cougars a 5-0 lead and signal the end of the evening for Bellamy as he was lifted from the game in favor of Bryce Gemmel.
The play also seemed to signal the end of the regular season for Henry who had to assisted from the field after he appeared to injure a hamstring while was running down the first base line.
The Cougars threatened to record a blowout of their own after the 12-1 loss Tuesday night as Will Dreggors hit by a pitch to load the bases but a force play and a groundout ended the threat and left the score at 5-0.
The Indians tried to rally in the bottom ofthe sixth inning as Tim Manning singloed and advanced to second on an infield error.
Gemmel hit into a force play that advanced Manning to third and Antmann followed by hitting a sacrifice fly to left that brought Manning home and get the Indians on the scoreboard.
Gemmel, who took second on the throw from the outfield on the sacrifice fly came home on a single to right field by Jonathan Banks who would steal second with Geremy Walton at the plate.
Walton followed by hitting a groundball to short but the play was mishandled but Dawson was able to pitch around the mistake as he induced Meyer to hit the first pitch to right field and end the inning.
The Cougars added one more run with two outs in the top of the seventh inning as Reeves reached on a walk and stole second before scoring on a single to left by Tennie.
Dawson, who would record six strikeouts in the game, allowed a single by Jones to start the bottom of the seventh inning giving the Indians hope for a rally.
However, Dawson dashed those hopes as he induced a flyball to right by Williams and a forceplay before retiring Smith on a strikeout to end the game.