EC sweeps Coffee in AAAAAA first round series

SHARPSBURG-The East Coweta Lady Indians never trailed Wednesday night as they swept the Coffee County Lady Trojans in their best-of-three series in the first round of the AAAAAA playoffs.
In the first game, the Lady Indians broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fourth inning and Maggie Morrow hit a three-run home run in the fifth to key an 8-1 victory while Katey Lynch and Gracelyn Newmon had two hits and two runs each as part of a 13-3 win in the nightcap.
The Lady Indians (26-8) will host either Harrison or Luella next Wednesday in a second round series with a trip to Columbus at stake.
In the opener, the Lady Indians took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning as Hailey Baswell doubled,moved to third on a groundout and came home when Kia Smith hit a sacrifice fly to center field.
However, the lead didn't last long as the Lady Trojans (17-12) tied the game with one out in the top of the fourth inning as Coffee starting pitcher Amanda Wright came home on an infield error but the Lady Indians came back in the bottom of the frame to reeclaim the lead.
Shemiah Sanchez singled, Reba Jones walked and Lynch singled to load the bases but Sanchez was retired at the plate on a force play but courtesy runner Madison Carter was able to score as Maggie Morrow hit a single to right field.
Baswell was hit by a pitch to bring Lynch home from third to give EC a 3-1 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Lady Indians broke the game open with five runs to seal the win.
With one out, Sanchez reached on an infield error and Jones followed with a walk before Lynch lined a double that scored Carter and Lauren Liebe followed by reaching on an error that scored courtesy runner Jamie Vitale.
Then the big blow came as Morrow drilled a 2-1 offering over the left field fence for a home run and the Lady Indians had the win as Kaylin Wall over in the top of the seventh inning for starter Morgan Goree allowing one hit.
In six innings, Goree allowed four hits and recorded six strikeouts.
In the nightcap, the Lady Indians were the visitors and they proved to be rude guests immediately as Smith led off by reaching on a double and moving to third on a sacrifice before coming home when Sanchez grounded out to shortstop.
The Lady Indians added to the lead in the top of the second inning with three runs as Lynch led off with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice by Liebe and came home on a wild pitch.
Liebe, who reached first on an error committed during the sacrifice, stole second and followed Lynch to third on the wild pitch and after two outs, Newmon walked and stole second for Smith.
Smith responded with a shot between the center fielder and the right fielder for a two-run triple and a 4-0 lead.
Coffee threatened to get back in the game in the bottom of the third inning as Tori Robinson had an RBI single  and starting pitcher Tess Robinson had a two-run double that cut the margin to 4-3.
The Lady Indians answered in the top of the fourth inning with one run as Morrow walked, Baswell and Newmon singled to load the bases for Smith who hit an infield fly to short but the ball dropped .
Pinch runner Lindsay Warren scored on the play while Baswell and Newmon moved up a base but they were left stranded as the inning eventually ended.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Lady Indians added more as Jones singled, Lynch walked and Liebe followed with a single that scored courtesy runner Carterand moved Lynch to second.
A passed ball moved Lynch and Liebe one base and with one out, Baswell walked and Newmon followed with a two-run single.
An error in the top of the sixth inning scored Freeman then all doubt about the game's outcome was erased in the top of the seventh inning as four runs came home including a two-run double by Newmon.
On the pitching rubber, Goree was effective despite the problems in the third inning as she scattered six hits and from the bottom of the third to completion she allowed one baserunner while recording eight strikeouts.
Meanwhile, the other two local teams will have to play deciding games Thursday as the Newnan Lady Cougars split with the Colquitt County Lady Packers with a 10-1 win and a 4-3 loss while the Northgate Lady Vikings split with Greenbrier after scores of 11-10 (NG loss) and 11-2 win in the nightcap.