Lady Vikings shutout Lady Indians in Strikeout Cancer game

Members of the Northgate and East Coweta softball teams gather around longtime softball coach Larry Shelnutt, his wife Linda and his granddaugher during the Strikeout for Cancer game held at ECHS on Monday night. Shelnutt, who is currently fightning cancer, coached many of the players in the photo and was a former assistant coach and booster club president of the softball program at ECHS. 

SHARPSBURG-The Lady Vikings scored four runs in the top of the third inning Monday night while pitchers McKenzie Peace and Haley Flood combined to allow three hits in a 6-0 victory over the East Coweta Lady Indians.
The game was part of a junior varsity/varsity doubleheader in an annual Strikeout for Cancer event held at East Coweta High School.
The Lady Vikings played without head coach Lisa Skelton who was serving out a two-game suspension after being ejected from a recent game and improved to 9-2 on the season while the Lady Indians dropped to 6-4 on the season.
The Lady Indians had an opportunity to score the first runs of the game as Mekhia Freeman and Shemiah Sanchez reached base with one out in the bottom of the first inning but Peace left them stranded as she induced a popup and a groundout to end the frame.
Both teams were scoreless until the top of the third inning when the Lady Vikings took advantage of mistakes to get on the board.
Brittany Futral led of the inning by reaching first on a walk, couretsy runner Ebonee Echols stole second and went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Rachel Cook.
Kat Davenport attempted a sacrifice bunt that was hit to the mound, but the ball was misplayed by EC starting pitcher Morgan Goree as Echols came home with the intial run of the game.
Davenport moved to second on a wild pitch and after a strikeout came home on a double to left field by Regan Kinsch.
Peace followed by reaching first after being hit by a pitch and Skalski reentered the game as a courtesy runner.
With Jessica Cochran at the plate, Kinsch advanced to third on a wild pitch and would come home as the throw from home to third went into left field.
Meanwhile, Skalski would follow Kinsch to third and eventually the final run of the inning on a single by Cochran.
The margin was enough for Peace who held the Lady Indians at bay for five innings as they were able to collect two hits through the first four innings before Flood took over who allowed one hit through the final three innings to collect a save.
The Lady Vikings added to their lead in the top of the sixth inning as Echols reached on a one out walk off reliever Kaylin Wall and Jessica Houk followed with a single to center field.
After an infield fly, Khira Long hit a single to right that scored Echols and advanced Houk to third who would eventually come home with the final run on a steal of home.