Pitching by Rich, Underhill and Wiley help lead to EC win in JV play

East Coweta's Keegan Rich prepares to deliver a pitch in the 8-1
victory over the McIntosh Chiefs. Rich pitched the frist three innings
of the contest. Photo courtesy of Michelle Rich.

SHARPSBURG-Steady pitching by Keegan Rich, Landon Underhill and Quinlan WIley led the East Coweta Indians to an 8-1 victory over the McIntosh Chiefs in a junior varsity baseball game played  Wednesday evening.
The win improved the Indians record to 4-2 as they prepare to host the Sandy Creek Patriots in a Thursday evening game starting at 5:30.
The Indians took control early as they scored a run in the bottom of the first inning.
With one out, Ashton Deloach was hit by a pitch, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch before scoring from third as Rich grounded out to second base.
The Indians added a run in the bottom of the second inning as Jacob Howell reached on a leadoff single and moved around the bases courtesy of a pair of wild pitches before coming home when Tanner Floyd's groundball was mishandled.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Indians had a chance to add to the lead as Nico Senese walked and Rich followed with an infield single but it appeared they would be stranded as Chiefs' starter Jacob Woods retired the next two batters on called third strikes.
However, EC was able to score as Howell followed with a walk and after Senese was able to score on a wild pitch Jacob Burgess reached on an infield error and Floyd reached on a walk that allowed Rich to score and the lead was 4-0.
After pitching three innings in which he allowed one hit and three walks while recording six strikeouts, Rich was lifted in favor of Landon Underhill.
The Indians scored twice in the bottom of the fourth as Deloach reached on an error, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch before coming home on the from end of a double steal that saw Rich go to second.
Wiley delivered the second run of the frame as his single to right field brought Rich home to give the home team a 6-0 cushion.
The Indians added a run with two outs in the bottom of the frame as Floyd was hit by a pitch and eventually came home on a single by Senese.
The final run came in the bottom of the sixth inning as Devin Holmes reached on a leadoff single, advanced to second on an error and was awarded third on a balk before coming home on a wild pitch.
Meanwhile, Underhill proved effective as he recorded five infield outs in his first two innings of work but experienced problems in the top of the sixth inning with the bases loaded and nobody out.
However, Underhill showed mental toughness as he retired two batters on strikeouts and ended the frame with a flyball to Senese in center field.
Wiley took over in the top of the seventh inning and allowed the only Chiefs' run of the night as Blake Summers reached on a leadoff double and come home on a one out single by Woods.
Wiley managed to get a force play at second and a groundout to third to end the game.