Indians survive Blue Devils behind Amtmann, win series

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SHARPSBURG-The East Coweta Indians scored all of their runs in the bottom of the first inning Thursday afternoon and pitcher Cole Amtmann made the lead stand with a strong outing to lead the Indians to a 3-2 victory over the Marietta Blue Devils aned clinch the second round AAAAAA state baseball playoffs series.
The Indians improve to 28-3 and will host the Milton Eagles in a third round matchup tentatively slated for Tuesday in a rematch of the 2004 championseries with the latter winning the title in Alpharetta.
Milrton swept Lambert Thursday by scores of in their second series.
"I thought Cole did an outstanding job," head coach Franklin Deloach commented. "In the fifth he was able to minimize the damage after a tough start allowing only one run after Marietta had runners on second and third with only one out and their three hole hitter at the plate."
After Amtmann, in his second start of the season, breezed throught the top of the first inning, the Indians appeared to be off to a strong start against Blue Devils starter Evan Steele.
With one out, Bryce Gemmel reached on an infield single and stole second before coming home on a single to center field by Amtmann that eluded Bradley Piggie who had been an outfield menace throughout the series.
Jonathan Banks gave the Indians the lead they would have throughout the afternoon when he drilled an 0-1 offering from Steele over the center field fence for a two-run home run and a 3-0 lead.
The Blue Devills, who finished their season with a 22-9 record, got one of the runs back in the top of the second inning as he led off by hitting a 1-2 offering from Amtmann over the right center field fence for a solo home run.
Amtmann surrendered a single to Marcus Mitchell after the home run but left him stranded at first as he retired the next two batters on strikeouts and induced a groundball to third to end the frame.
As solid as Amtmann was on the mound, Steele threw a lot of pitches early but made a few count including in the bottom of third when he retired the first two batters on solid flyballs before walking Geremy Walton and allowing a single to Matthew Meyer before getting a strikeout from Stephan Cruver on a strikeout.
That would be the only threat the Indians could muster against Steele who surrendered seven hits and recorded five strikeouts.
Marietta had a scoring opportunity in the top of the fourth as Mitchell doubled and moved to third on a groundout by TJ Bulock but Amtmann recorded a strikeout to end the frame.
The Blue Devils broke through in the top of the fifth inning as Piggie Led off with a single and Mathis was hit by a pitch ahead of a sacrifice bunt and a groundout by Travis Wildermuth that brought Piggee home.
Amtmann retired the next batter on strikes then caught a second wind in the top of the sixth inning
After inducing a groundout by Henderson Amtmann ended the inning in short order as he retired the next two batters on strikeouts before the pivotal seventh inning.
After surrendering a walk to begin the inning, Amtmann induced a flyball to center by Piggee, a fielder's choice to Mathis and the final blow came when he recorded his ninth strikeout when he retired Wilson swinging.