Lynch strikes out 14 batters in one-hitter as EC claims first place in region

Region 2-AAAAAAA Standings

                        Overall   Region

East Coweta   16-0       4-0

Newnan            17-2       3-1

Campbell          5-10      2-1

Westlake           5-7        1-2

Wheeler             5-6        0-3

Pebblebrook     0-7        0-3

The East Coweta Lady Indians overcame a sluggish start to their Region 2-7A contest Thursday at Newnan with four runs in the top of the seventh inning to support the one-hit, 14 strikeout performance of Kelley Lynch to defeat the Lady Cougars 6-0.

By virtue of the win, the Lady Indian s improved to 16-0 overall and a 4-0 region record which gives them first place as they play Union Grove Friday afternoon in a non-region contest at the home of the Lady Wolverines.

After winning their first 17, the Lady Cougars have dropped two straight and are now in second place with a 3-1 mark.

Newnan starter Addie Andrews got through the first two innings allowing a single to Lilly Agan in the top of the first inning but managed to get of trouble as Agan was caught stealing second and the remaining five batters were retired.

Meanwhile, Lynch was in her usual form as she retired the first 11 batters with seven strikeouts until Danielle Curlee reached base in the bottom of the fourth.

The Lady Indians gave Lynch a lead in the top of the third inning Hanna Miller reached on a single and moved to single on a one out walk to Carmen Prior before scoring after singles by Agan and Olivia Davis.

Prior was retired at the plate on a force play for the second out of the frame but EC was able to add a second run to the lead as Ashlynn Gunter had an RBI single that brought Agan home.

After being retired in order in the top of the fourth, the Lady Indians had a chance to add to the lead in the top of the fifth as Prior singled and after one out moved to second on a single by Davis.

However, Andrews got out of trouble as flyballs were hit to center field and right field respectively to end the frame.

The 2-0 lead was enough for Lynch who retired seven of the next nine batters after Curlee reached base in the fourth inning.

After being retired in order in the top of the sixth inning, the Lady Indians finally got to Andrews in the top of the seventh inning as they batted around to score four runs.

Ansley Gunter led off with a pinch hit single and Kenadie Cooper was sent in as a pinch-runner as Prior came to the plate.

Cooper demonstrated her speed by stealing second base and moving to third on a wild pitch before Prior grounded out to second and collected an RBI as Cooper came home.

A walk to Agan and consecutive singles by Davis and Lynch gave EC a 4-0 lead then a sacrifice fly by Ashlynn Gunter and a single by Aniston Wright added to the tally in the frame.

Davis was 3-for-4 at the plate with a run and an RBI while Agan was 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.

In the bottom of the inning, Lynch retired the first batter on strikes and after the next batter reached on an error, recorded another strikeout.

After hitting the next batter, Lynch was able to end the game as she retired the final batter on a called third strike.

As for opponent on the pitching rubber, Andrews allowed 11 hits with five in the seventh inning and recorded six strikeouts.

JV gets revenge on Newnan