Pair of aces were winning hand as EC wins twice in GDC games

Rachel Vaughan looks in for a sign during her no-hitter
in the Lady Indians' 8-0 win over Pike County.

SHARPSBURG-Franklin Deloach was able to use a pair of aces Saturday as his East Coweta Lady Indians won two games on the final day of the Georgia Dugout Club.

Played on the Lady Indians’ field, Rachel Vaughan was dominate as she tossed a no-hitter in an 8-0 victory over the Pike County Lady Pirates.
Meanwhile, a two-hit, 12 strikeout performance from Kelley Lynch resulted in a 3-0 win over the Thomas County Central Lady Jackets in the evening contest.

The Lady Indians won four games in the tournament and are now 6-0 on the season as they will host the Ola Lady Mustangs Monday evening at 5:30.

In the opening game, the Lady Indians wasted little time getting on the board as Lilly Agan reached on a single in the bottom of the first inning and stole two bases before coming home on a sacrifice ice fly by Olivia Davis.

Lynch with a single while Ashlynn Gunter reached on an infield error but was forced out at second base while Aniston Wright reached on a fielder’s choice.

An illegal pitch was called and Lynch, who advanced to third on the fielder’s choice, was awarded home to give EC a 2-0 lead.

The Lady Indians added to the lead in the bottom of the second inning as singles by Caison Byars, Carmen Prior and Agan led to a run while a ground ball to second by Davis accounted for the other as Prior scored from third.

Being staked to a 4-0 lead, Vaughan took care of the Lady Pirates as she allowed a first inning walk, committed an error in the third and hit a batter in the fifth while recording five strikeouts in five innings.

The Lady Indians scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to win the game under the mercy rule as Hanna Miller, Agan and Davis had RBIs.

In the second game of the day, Lynch was also at her best by retiring seven of the batters by strikeout.

Lynch was responsible for the first run of the game as well as Davis reached on a one out single and scored on the former's triple.

Kenadie Cooper, who was running for Lynch, came home to give EC a 2-0 lead as Gunter grounded out to shortstop.

Lynch was also responsible for third and final run of the game as she led off the bottom o the third inning with a double and after courtesy runner Cooper moved to third on a wild pitch, Gunter hit a ground ball to the shortstop for the out and an RBI.

The Lady Indians had an opportunity to add to the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning as Caison Byars singled and Prior was hit by a pitch but Brianna Douglas managed to get out of trouble by inducing a groundout and flyball to center field.

In the top of the fifth inning, Lynch would retire the side in order but nobody fell by strikeout as TCC hit two groundouts and a flyball.

The game ended in the bottom when the 90-minute time limit expired.

Honorees and a first...catch?

A pair of former Lady Indians from the 2015 team were present and were recognized for honors on the college level as Mekhia Freeman (Georgia Southern) was honored for being named to the Sun Belt Conference All-Freshman team and Dani Morgan (Florida State) was recognized for being named to the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Freshman squad.

Morgan was also recognized for being named the Most Valuable Player of the ACC Tournament while Freeman was recognized for her. .300-plus batting average and being freshman-of-the-week by the Sun Belt.

Another ceremony took place prior to the game as Lee Middle School student Riley Ratzliff took part in a first catch ceremony.

Ratzliff, the daughter of John (former EC assistant) and Danielle Ratzliff (a former player under Deloach got in her catching gear as Gunter tossed a strike to the mitt of the future Lady Indian.