Vaughan pitches, hits EC into the 'ship

Rachel Vaughan was mugging in front of the camera in
this 2016 file photo but she was all business Friday
night with two innings of solid relief and the game winning
hit against Etowah.

COLUMBUS-Rachel Vaughan summed it up the best as her single in the bottom of the seventh inning scored Kenadie Cooper from second to give the East Coweta Lady Indians a 3-2 victory over the Etowah Lady Eagles Friday in the semifinals of the AAAAAAA Elite Eight Tournament at South Commons Softball Complex.

"It was a good team effort tonight," the senior said. "I just put the ball in play. Kelley (Lynch) and Ashlynn (Gunter) got on base."

With one out, Lynch hit a flyball to right field that appeared to be the second out of the frame, but the ball popped out of the glove and became a two-base error as Lynch was able to get to second base on the play.

Cooper was sent into the game as a pinch runner and Gunter followed and was able to coax a walk from Lady Eagle pitcher Kinsey Norton to set the stage for Vaughan.

Vaughan, who pitched the last two innings for the Lady Indians, responded by hitting a 2-1 offering past the shortstop and the speedy Cooper raced around the bases and was able to slide home ahead of the throw for the winning run.

The win allows EC to enter the 9:00 championship game Saturday with a 35-0 record against either Archer or Etowah.

The two teams were facing each other in a late night contest determined by impending rains.

Etowah (24-5) had a chance to get on the board first in the top of the second as the first two batters reached but Lynch had a pair of strikeouts sandwiches a popfly to Gunter at third to end the threat.

In the bottom of the frame, EC was able to take an early lead as Gunter led off the bottom of the second with a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Vaughan and score on a two out double by Caison Byars.

Byars would give the Lady Indians a 2-0 lead as she came home on a double to right center by Caroline Lively.

The Lady Indians had a pair of opportunities to add to the lead but Nelson was able to make the out pitch that stalled the chances and gave her team a chance to rally.

The Lady Eagles was able to rally in the top of the fifth inning as Skylar Wallace walked and with two outs was able to score in front of a shot to left field by Emilie Watson and the game was tied at 2-2.

Vaughan took over for Lynch in the top of the sixth inning and had a little trouble as the Lady Eagles had the bases loaded and one out.

However, Vaughan showed determination and was able to leave the runners stranded as she able to induce a force play at home and a strikeout the retired the side in order in the top of the seventh with three swinging strikeouts to set the stage for the bottom of the frame.

As for reaching the championship game in her senior year, Vaughan was able to put her views into perspective.

"It hasn't kicked in yet but it will later," she said. "As for it being my last game, I plan to go out with a bang and hope we can finish the drill."

She will get her chance Saturday morning as the Lady Indians look to finish ahead of the rain.