EC wins deciding game to claim region championship on emotional filled Thursday

Momentum would make several visits to the softball field at Newnan High School Thursday evening as the East Coweta Lady Indians faced the Newnan Lady Cougars in the finals of the Region 3-AAAAA Tournament.
The two rivals had to play two games as the Lady Cougars scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning to come away with a 6-2 victory in the championship final to force the if necessary game which the Lady Indians would win in an emotionally charged 6-4 decision thatgave them the tournament title.
Both will play at home next week in the first round of the state tournament with EC hosting Coffee while Newnan will host Colquitt County.


East Coweta pitcher Morgan Goree recovered in the if necessary game of the Region 3-AAAAAA Tournament to allow eight hits in the 6-4 victory that gave the Lady Indians the tournament title. She retired 14 of the final 17 batters she faced in the game.

The Lady Indians took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning as Kia Smith reached on a walk, stole second and came home on a two out single by Shemiah Sanchez.
The Lady Cougars tied the game in the top of the fourth inning, as Chaycie Goggins led of with a single and eventually scored on a wild pitch, but the Lady Indians regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth as Freeman singled, stole second and came home on an RBI single by Sanchez to give the latter momentum and thoughts of clinching the title.
 However, momentum shifted in the top of the seventh inning to Newnan's favor after starting pitcher Tori Loveless hit a line drive back to her EC counterpart Morgan Goree.
M.B. Arnall singled and after Chasity Meadows was hit by a pitch, Shania Colton followed with a single to load the bases for Lauren Ferguson.
Ferguson hit a ball to second, but the ball got through allowing Arnall and Meadows to come home and give the Lady Cougars a 3-2 lead.
The Lady Indians thought they would get out of the inning as Goree recorded a strikeout but that was not the case as Arden Jobe hit a softball to second but the throw was late allowing Colton to score.
Goggins followed with an RBI single and after Lindsay Stewart was hit by a pitch, Goree was replaced by Kaylin Wall who gave up an RBI single to Loveless before getting a flyball to center field to end the frame.
Loveless, who allowed four hits and recorded five strikeouts in the first game, retired the side in order in the bottom of the frame to end the game and the Lady Cougars took the momentum into the deciding game.
In the nightcap, however, momentum would shift several times for the two rivals before the final out of the game was recorded.
The Lady Cougars took a 2-0 lead in the nightcap after two outs as Jobe singled and Goggins doubled before Stewart followed with a two-run single to right.
Momentum began to fade from Newnan, however, as the Lady Indians came back to tie the game at 2-2 in the top of the second inning as
In the top of the third inning, EC took the momentum as they scored three runs to take a 5-2 lead as Smith and Freeman reached on singles and each stole a base before a throwing error scored Smith for the go ahead run.

Chaycie Goggins gave the Newnan Lady Cougars a spark Thursday as she was 4-for-8 at the plate with a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs. (File photo)

Sanchez reach on an infield error then consecutive groundouts by Reba Jones and Katey Lynch brought Freeman and Sanchez home to complete the scoring.
The Lady Cougars regained some of the lost momentum in the bottom of the third inning as Jobe reached on a one out single then Goggins followed with a shot over the left field fence for a two run homer that cut the margin to 5-4.
However, the Lady Indians took the momentum back as they scored a run in the top of the fourth inning when Gracelynn Newmon singled and eventually scored on a single to right by Freeman and the Lady Cougars were unable to generate anymore offense against Goree as she limited them to two hits over the final four innings.
The Lady Indians and the Lady Cougars will host best-of-three first round playoff series Wednesday with EC facing will host Coffee County who is the fourth seed from Region 1-AAAAAA while the Lady Cougars will host Colquitt County who is the third seed from that region.

EC, Newnan cruise to victories in first day of Region 3-AAAAAA Tournament

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The expected happened Tuesday night at Newnan High School as the East Coweta Lady Indians and Newnan Lady Cougars advanced to a second round faceoff in the Region 3-AAAAAA softball tournament after easy victories.
In game one, the Lady Indians took advantages of miscues in the field by Westlake to come away with a 14-0 four inning win over the Lady Lions while the Lady Cougars needed five innings but still recorded a shutout with an 8-0 victory ovetr the Douglas County Lady Tigers in the nightcap.
After the Lady Lions and Lady Tigers in the losers bracket game at 4:30, the Coweta version of the Hatfields and McCoys will get underway at around 6:30.
The Lady Indians (21-7) did most of their damage after one out in the bottom of the first inning with 10 runs as Mekhia Freeman followed with a triple to left and eventually coming home on a wild pitch.


EC's Mekhia Freeman is on her way to third base and a triple in the bottom of the first inning for the Lady Indians.

Katey Lynch was hit by a pitch, Shemiah Sanchez reached on a walk and Reba Jones followed with single that scored both runners.
A throwing error allowed courtesy runner Madison Carter advnace to second while Lauren Liebe to reach first on a fielder's choice and Hailey Baswell was able to reach on a walk that loaded the bases.
An error allowed Carter to score and a walk to Gracelynn Newmon brought Liebe to score before Kia Smith was hit by a pitch to score yet another run.
An error scored a run then an RBI groundout by Lynch and a double by Sanchez completed the scoring in the inning.
The Lady Indians added three runs in the bottom of the second inning as Liebe led off with a single and Baswell followed by reaching on an error before two infield outs and an RBI double by Smith.
Freeman reached on a walk and Lynch reached on an error which scored two runs.
The final run of the game came in the bottom of third inning when Liebe, Baswell and Gabby Freed had consecutive single that accounted for one run.
Morgan Goree was the beneficiary of the run supports as she pitched the the first two innings for the win while Kaylin Wall finished by hurling two innings.
Meanwhile, the Lady Cougars began punching their ticket to a top seed in the bottom of the first inning of their game as Masen Willard was hit by a pitch and Hannah Scarbrough singled.
With one out, Lindsay Stewart lined a triple to right field bringing Willard and Scarbrough home for a 2-0 Newnan lead with the third and final run of the frame resulting from a wild pitch that brough Stewart home.
The Lady Cougars added to the lead in the bottom of the second inning as Lauren Ferguson reached on a one out infield error, Scarbrough reached after being hit by a pitch and both came home on a two out single by Arden Jobe.
Chasity Meadows entered as a courtesy runner and came home as Stewart drilled her second straight run scoring extra base hit with an RBI double.
The 6-0 lead was good enough for Tori Loveless who allowed three singles in as many innings on the rubber while getting solid play from her defense as she recorded two strikeouts before yielding to Emily Allen in the top of the fourth inning.
Allen gave head coach Carrie Gilmore quality innings with a pair of walks and three strikeouts while not allowing a ball to be hit out of the infield.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Lady Cougars were able to finish the game as Shakira Geter reached on a one out walk, stole second before reaching third on an infield error and coming home on a wild pitch.
Chasity Meadows walked and after a force play at third Willard had an RBI single to end the contest.

Newnan sweeps Rising Starr in middle school championship doubleheader

Multiple players contribute to series win

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SHARPSBURG-Middle school softball supremacy remained in Coweta County Saturday as the Newnan Cougars swept two games from the Rising Starr Panthers of Fayette County in the Fayette-Coweta Championship played at East Coweta High School.
The Cougars, a combination of players from Smokey Road and Evans Middle Schools, defeated the Panthers, winners of the middle school title in Fayette County by scores of 14-3 and 9-1.
In the opener, Newnan took the lead in the top of the first inning as Savannah Wilson singled, stole second and took third on a throwing error and came home when Hailey Bloom reached on an infield error.
Bloom would score the second run of the inning when Gracie Goodwin reached on a two out single.
Rising Starr tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Kendall Robinson was hit by a pitch and came home on a one out double to right center by Laura Sellers who later advanced to third and came home on an infield error.
The Cougars came back to regain the lead in the top of the third inning as Danielle Curlee reached on an error and stole two bases before coming home with one out on an infield error that allowed Goodwin to reach.
Maggie Strickland followed with a double and after a line out to second, Blythe Bates had a two-run single that gave the Cougars a 5-2 lead.
The Panthers rallied in the top of the third inning as Sellers led off with a single and with one out Paige Andrews and Kate Ashmore followed with singles that loaded the bases.
Wilson, Newnan’s starting pitcher, recovered as she recorded a strikeout and allowed an RBI single to Alyssa Angelo before ending the rally by inducing a groundout.
The Cougars broke the game open in the top of the fourth when they scored seven runs for the final margin.
With one out, Bloom had an RBI double, Strickland had a two-run double while Alex Williams and Bates had RBI singles to highlight the frame.
Bates, Curlee, Goodwin and Strickland each had two hits in the game with Curlee, Goodwin and Strickland each scoring twice along with Bloom while Bates had three RBIs.
In the second game, the Cougars took the lead in the bottom of the first inning as Wilson singled and stole second while Curlee reached on an infield error.
Both scored on a triple to right by Houston who later scored on a single by Goodwin.
Newnan added two runs in the bottom of the second inning as Williams and Bates singled and Taylor Corley walked to load the bases and with one out Bloom had an RBI single and Curlee hit a sacrifice fly to right for the other score.
The Cougars narrowly pulled away as they scored two more runs in the bottom of the third inning as Goodwin singled and stole second before scoring on a single by Strickland who moved to second on the throw home before scoring on a sacrifice by Williams.
The Panthers averted a shutout in the top of the fourth inning as Sellers reached on a one out triple and scored when Julia Allen grounded out to short.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Cougars scored two more runs as Bloom led off with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error before coming around to score wild pitch while Goodwin would reach on an error and eventually score on a wild pitch.
That was enough for Wilson who pitched both games as she retired the side in order in the top of the fifth inning to end the game and seal the title for Newnan.

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Goree tosses one hitter at Mcintosh in EC win, tough home game for Newnan.

UPDATE

(Note: a scoring change was made after the story was published and Goree actually tossed a no-hitter)

East Coweta pitcher Morgan Goree has proven to be a very stinging young lady of late and Friday was no exception as she allowed NO hits and recorded 10 strikeouts in a 5-1 win for the Lady Indians in a non-region game at Peachtree City.
The win improves the Lady Indians overall record to 21-7 as they prepare to face the Westlake Lady Lions Tuesday afternoon in the Region 3-AAAAAA Tournament at Newnan High School.
Goree has pitched four games of the five played by the Lady Indians this week and she has allowed five hits in 24 innings.
The Lady Indians gave her an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as.Kia Smith led off with a triple and came home on a wild pitch.
The Lady Chiefs, who fell to 5-10 and are preparing for 4-AAAAA tournament, tied the game with a run in the bottom of the frame when Megan Eberle reached on a leadoff walk and eventually stole home, but the Lady Indians responded with  two runs in the top of the fourth inning.
With one out Shemiah Sanchez was hit by a pitch, stole second and came home on a two out double to left field by Lauren Liebe who came home on a single to right by Hailey Baswell.
The Lady Indians added a run in the top of the fifth inning as Kia Smith reached on a one out single, stole second and came home on a double to center by Katey Lynch.
East Coweta added one more run in the top of the seventh inning as Smith led off with a double to left,moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Mekhia Freeman and came home when Lynch grounded out to third.
Meanwhile, Goree was on her game as she recovered from a long first inning to own the remainder of the game as the Lady Chiefs were unable to mount any offense.
In the junior varsity game, Jessica Barber tossed a perfect game as the Lady Indians were a 16-0 winner in their season finale.
The Lady Indians (16-1) scored three runs in the top of the first as Emily Watson had a two-run double and a groundout by Rachel Vaughn.
East Coweta broke the game open in the top of the second inning with 12 runs as Jamie Vitale had a two-run triple, Watson had an RBI single and Vaughn had an RBI double among the batters who did damage.
The Lady Indians added one more run in the top of third inning on a bases loaded walk to Ashlyn Gunter.
Meanwhile it was not a good evening for the Newnan Lady Cougars as they dropped an 8-0 decision at home to the Heard County Lady Braves.
The Lady Cougars will still take a solid 17-5 into their Region 3-AAAAAA tournament game at home on Tuesday against the Douglas County Lady Tigers.
The Lady Braves scored single runs in the first and second and added three runs each in the fifth and sixth innings.
Jordan Watson did everything for Heard County as she had three hits and five RBIs at the plate and held Newnan to two hits and recorded seven strikeouts.  

EC disposes of 20-win ELCA prior to regular season ending

SHARPSBURG-Kia Smith was 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored Thursday as the East Coweta Lady Indians defeated the Eagles Landing Christian Lady Chargers 8-0 in a five inning non-region game.
The Lady Indians (20-7) will prepare to close the regular season in Peachtree City against the McIntosh Lady Chiefs before getting ready to face the Westlake Lady Lions on Tuesday in the opening game of the Region 3-AAAAAA tournament at Newnan High School.
The Lady Chargers of Region 5-A fell to 20-5.
The Lady Indians scored twice in the bottom of the first inning to take control of the game as Smith singled, stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on a single by Shemiah Sanchez.
Katey Lynch, who was hit by a pitch would score the other run of the frame as Lauren Liebe had an RBI single.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Lady Indians broke the game open with six runs for the final margin.

With one out, Jamie Vitale walked then Smith and Freeman followed with consecutive singles that allowed Vitale to score.
Lynch followed with an RBI double to center and Sanchez drove home a run with a line drive single off the pitcher.
After Lynch scored on a groundout by Reba Jones, Hailey Baswell had an RBI double and Gracelynn Newmon concluded the scoring with an RBI single.
A day after nearly tossing a no-hitter against the Northgate Lady Vikings, Morgan Goree pitched the first four innings against the Lady Chargers allowing one hit before turning the game over to Kaylin Wall who allowed one hit during the top of the fifth inning but still ended the game quickly.
In the junior varsity game, the Lady Indians did all of their damage in the bottom of the third inning as they came away with a 6-1 victory.
Madison Carter opened the inning with a single and stole second before Vitale reached on a walk.
The duo moved a base as Emily Watson hit a sacrifice bunt to third and Carter was able to score on a wild pitch while Vitale was able to reach home the same route while starting pitcher Rachel Vaughn was at the plate.
Vaughn reached on a single and with Sheyenne Bell in the game as a courtesy runner, the L:ady Indians got on the board as she stole second base and came home on a single to center by Qortni Ware.
Ware stole second and after a strikeout, Olivia Davis reached on a walk and Jocee Barret followed with an RBI single and Ashlyn Gunter ended the scoring barrage with a two-run double.
Meanwhile, Vaughn had a quality start as she didn’t allow a hit until the top of the fourth inning and allowed a run in the top of the fifth as she finished with a five-hitter, recording six strikeouts.
The pitcher was also 3-for-3 at the plate including two doubles.
 

Northgate defeats East Coweta in non-region softball game

The Northgate Lady Vikings took advantage of missed opportunites and miscues in the field Wednesday night to come from behind and defeat the East Coweta Lady Indians 3-2 in a non-region victory at home for the former.
The Lady Vikings improve to 19-2 on the season as they prepare for the Region 3-AAAAA Tournament while the Lady Indians fell to 19-7 as they prepare to host Eagles Landing Christian Academy on Thursday and face the McIntosh Lady Chiefs in Peachtree City on Friday.
The Lady Indians took the lead in the top of the first inning as Kia Smith led off with a walk, stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on a single by Shemiah Sanchez.
In the top of the second inning, EC had a chance to add to the lead as Maggie Morrow led off with a walk and was replaced by Lindsay Warren as a runner.
Warren moved to second on sacrifice to third by Hailey Baswell but Northgate starter McKenzie Peace retired the next two batters on infield outs.
The Lady Indians did add to the lead in the top of the third inning as Mekhia Freeman reached first on an infield error, stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt before coming home on a single by Sanchez.
Sanchez would be stranded on first as Peace was able to induce a flyball to centerfielder Brenna Skalski and a groundball to third baseman Jenna Pealor to end the inning.
In the bottom of the frame, the Lady Vikings got on the scoreboard as Joprdan Hamilton led off with a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice and after a strikeout came home when Skalski reached on an infield error.
The Lady Indians had opportunities to add to the lead as Morrow led off the top of the fourth inning with a single and Freeman led off the fifth with a single but they never got oast third base as Peace continued to find a way to get out of trouble in each frame.
The Lady Vikings made them pay as Hamilton led off the bottom o fthe fifth by reaching on an infield errorand moved around to third on a pair of groundball outs before coming home on a passed ball.
The home team, who defeated the Lady Indians 6-0 on September 9 in Sharpsburg, took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning as Lauren DeLoach led off with a walk, moved to second on a passed ball and advanced to third on a groundout before coming home on a single to right by Ebonee Echols.
Peace, who allowed six hits, retired the side in order in the top of the seventh to get the win.  



  

Goree fires two-hitter in EC win over Chapel Hill

SHARPSBURG-Throughout his tenure as the head coach at East Coweta, Franklin Deloach tries to have a competitive non-region schedule for his Lady Indians and Monday evening was no exception as they hosted the Chapel Hill Lady Panthers.
Added to the schedule thanks to Mother Nature, the Lady Indians got a measure of revenge of a 2009 region tournament loss against the Lady Panthers as Morgan Goree had a two-hit eight strikeout performance in a 3-0 victory.
The game was also part of a marathon this week for the Lady Indians (18-6) who will play Northside-Columbus at home Tuesday, play at Northgate on Wednesday, host Eagles Landing Christian on Thursday and close the regular season on Friday at McIntosh.
As for the Chapel Hill game, the Lady Indians scored a single riun in the bottom of the first inning as Kia Smith led off with a walk, stole second and moved to third on a groundout before eventually scoring with two outs in the frame on a wild pitch as Shemiah Sanchez reached on a walk.



EC pitcher Morgan Goree allowed two hits and recorded eight strikeouts in the Lady Indians' 3-0 victory.

 

 

The run would be the only margin that Goree had play but she was up to the task as she continiued to keep Lady Panther batters off the bases with a strikeout pitch that appeared to work throughout the game.
However, Goree's mound opponent Darby Demarest was as equal to task as she allowed two hits in the first four innings and recieved support from her defense including four outs hit to the outfield.
Demarest would surrender the other two EC runs with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning as Mekhia Freeman reached on an infield error and Katey Lynch followed with a shot over the left field fence for a two-run home run.
The Lady Indians appeared to get to Demarest after one out in the bottom of the sixth inning as Maggie Morrow, Hailey Baswell and Gracelynn Newmon reached on consecutive singles.
Demarest, who allowed seven hits and three walks in the game, recovered to induce an infield fly and a groundout hit back to her to end the frame.
Goree retired the first two batters in the top of the seventh inning, but a pair of infield errors prolongd the frame before a groundball to Newmon at third ended the game.