Lynch records 16 strikeouts as EC clinches region lead in win over Newnan

SHARPSBURG-Kelley Lynch responded in the clutch Tuesday as she allowed four hits and recorded 16 strikeouts to help give the East Coweta Lady Indians a 3-1 varsity softball victory over the Newnan Lady Cougars and clinch at least a tie for the Region 2-AAAAAAA title.

The Lady Indians improved to 13-2 overall and 4-0 on the season with a region game at Wheeler next Tuesday while the Lady Cougars fell to 3-1 and have a region game at home against Campbell that should guarantee them a second place finish in the regular season.

Lindsay "Lulu" Warren scored the first run of the game
after hitting a triple to right field in the first inning. She also
had a single in the 3-1 win.

The Lady Indians took the lead in the bottom of the first inning as Lindsay “Lulu” Warren reached on a one out triple with the aid of a pair of new cleats and came home when Lynch hit a sacrifice fly to right.

Lynch was able to hold the lead as she retired the first nine batters of the game while her opponent on the rubber Addie Andrews sandwiched a pair of hits in between outs during the first three frames of her stint.

In the top of the fourth inning, Newnan was able to break through as Hannah Scarbrough led off with a double to left center and after a single by Hailey Bloom was able to score the tying run on a one out single by Lesley Davis.

Lynch would retire the next two batters to prevent any further damage and keep the game tied at 1-1.

East Coweta responded in the bottom of the frame as Rachel Vaughn, Aniston Wright and Ashlynn Gunter reached on singles that loaded the bases.

Hanna Miller gave the Lady Indians the lead when she hit a 1-1 offering from Andrews into center field that scored pinch runner Krys Odum from third and Wright from second.

Caroline Lively reached on a walk and after a strikeout, the Lady Indians nearly had one more run as Olivia Davis hit a flyball to Scarbrough in center field but Gunter's attempt to score from failed as the throw from Scarbrough a solid rough to catcher Darby Keene was true and Gunter was tagged out.

That would be the last Lady Indian threat as Andrews had a solid finish to her outing by retiring six of seven batters faced in the final two innings.

In six innings, Andrews allowed seven hits and recorded four strikeouts while getting seven infield outs.

Meanwhile Lynch was almost untouchable after the top of the fourth inning as she retired 11 of the final 12 batters she faced with Sarah Vallery collecting a seventh inning single.

The Lady Indians will host Union Grove Wednesday evening in a non-region doubleheader with the junior varsity slated to open the evening at 5:00.

The two clubs met earlier in the season in McDonough with EC winning 8-0 in six innings behind a two-hit performance on the rubber by Vaughn as well as a three-run home run by Miller and a two-run single by Warren.