Race between East Coweta and Milton for final four begins

East Coweta (28-3)

Milton 23-7-2

Around the third turn they go may be a term used in horse racing but it can be applied to the third round of the AAAAAA state baseball playoff series between the East Coweta Indians and the Milton Eagles.
The two teams are hoping to get around that third turn when they meet Tuesday afternoon beginning at 5:00 for an opportunity to advance to the final four to face either Colquitt County (the 2003 champion after defeating East Coweta) or Parkview (2000-2002 champion who was eliminated by the Indians in 2004).
The Indians (28-3) and Eagles (23-7-2) will meet for the first time since 2004 when the Eagles defeated the Indians for 2004 title in Alpharetta.
East Coweta has had an up and down run through the playoffs having eased past Rockdale County in two games by scores of 13-0 and 16-0 in eight innings while needing three games to defeat a strong Marietta team with Cole Amtmann pitching a courageous game in the finale as the Indians deeated the Blue Devil 3-2 last Thursday.
Milton, the top seed from region 5, needed three games with two played in extra innings to eliminate the Brookwood broncos and elimnated Lambert in two games by scores of 7-3 and 9-2 in round two.
On the mound, the Eagles have a number of players available including junior Dylan Ceese who has six wins, senior Payton Smith with five wins and several hurlers with two wins.
Cease is among several Eagles who are also adept with the bat in a lineup that includes senior infielder Ryan Gridley who had three hits in the Lambert series and junior first baseman Jack Thompson who had three hits in one of the playoff games against Brookwood.
Now it is off to the races for the final four.