Lynch gives fielders day off on Senior Night with 21 strikeouts

File Photo. Kelley Lynch gave her fielders the night off with a record
21 strikeouts in the 4-0 win over Northside-Columbus. She allowed two hits
and had a single of her own.

SHARPSBURG-In the game of fast pitch softball a team needs to have quality pitching and so Columbus with a record of lid fielders to become successful.
However, that was not the case on Tuesday night as Kelley Lynch allowed two hits and retired 21 batters by strikeout as the East Coweta Lady Indians defeated the Northside Lady Patriots 4-0.
The win improved the Lady Indians overall record to 21-2 as they prepare to close the regular season Wednesday against the Northgate Lady Vikings.
Meanwhile, the Lady Patriots returned to Columbus with a 17-9 record.
The game was a pitching duel between Lynch and Northside hurler Raelee Weaver who each had a one-hitter through the first three innings.
That changed in the bottom of the fourth inning as EC took the lead when Carmen Prior, one of three seniors honored along with Lynch and Krys Odum, hit a double to left field and scored on a one out single to right by Kenadie Cooper.
The Lady Patriots tried to rally in the top of fifth inning as Sammie Cotton became only one of a few players to not only make contact but actually hit the ball fair with a single to center.
Cotton stole second and moved to third on a passed ball with the tying run, but was left stranded as Lynch retired the next two batters on called third strikes.
The Lady Indians added to the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning as Ashleigh Griffin and Caroline Lively reached on consecutive infield errors with pinch runner Hanna Miller scoring on a two out single by Lilly Agan.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Lady Indians gained some insurance as they scored twice for the final margin of the contest.
With one out, Lynch aided her own cause with a single and Cooper followed with a single that knocked Weaver out of the game.
After the pitching change, Gunter reached first after being hit by a pitch to load the bases and Griffin recorded an RBI when Jaliyah Holmes scored on a single by Griffin.
Cooper scored the final run of the night from third as Ansley Duffey hit a sacrifice fly to left field.
As the case had been all evening, Lynch didn't need her fielders as she promptly recorded strikeouts 19-21 to set a school record and end the game and allow the fans to take part in a Senior Night dinner.
NOTE:  The junior varsity will look to finish their season with a 16-0 record and extend their two-year unbeaten mark to 33 games when they face the Lady Vikings. 
However, there is a 60 percent chance of rain for Wednesday and the games will not be made up.