Lady Indians split in Ram Classic

Jada Savage retired the first nine batters in the Lady Indians 8-2 win over
the Duluth Wildcats. She pitched five innings allowing one hit and recordung
eight strikeouts. Photo by Stuart Crosby

LILBURN-A late September visit Friday to Gwinnett County garnered a split for the East Coweta Lady Indians in games against Duluth and Parkview in the Ram Classic at the home of the latter team.
In game one, the Lady Indians struck early to support the pitching of Jada Savage, Camryn Horton and McKenna Holmes to defeat the Duluth Wildcats 8-2.
In game two, most of the Lady Indians were hit a somebody as the Parkview Panthers came away with a 5-2 win in a game that ended in six innings due to a time limit.
By virtue of the split, the Lady Indians will take a 19-5 record to their Monday evening encounter with the Alexander Cougars in Douglasville.
The scoring in the opener against Duluth began in the bottom of the first inning when Madison Duffel led off with a bunt single and eventually scoured when Mallory Lumpkins doubled.
With Emma Elrod at the plate, Lumpkins was able to advance on consecutive wild pitches plateward for the second EC run and Elrod reached first on a walk.

Emma Elrod rounds second base in the game
against Duluth. Elrod was 3-for-6 with two runs
scored and had two RBIs in 
the two games. Photo by Paula Stubbs

After Elrod advanced to second base on a passed ball, Kip Heggood lined a 1-2 offering to left field for single that scored the former and the lead was 

3-0.
Heggood eventually advanced to second based on a passed ball and scored the final run of the frame with two outs on a wild pitch.
After Savage breezed through the top of the second inning by striking out the side, the Lady Indians added to the lead as Payton Roberson reached on a one out walk and advanced to second before scoring on an infield error that allowed Lumpkins to reach base.
Lumpkins, who reached second on the error, came home on an RBI single by Elrod.
Meanwhile, Savage was in control in the circle as she retired the first nine batters of the game as Saria Simmons reached on a single to center field in the top of the fourth inning.
The Lady Indians gave her a 7-0 lead as a pair of force plays allowed Duffel came home.
After five innings in which she allowed the lone single, walked one batter and recorded eight strikeouts, Savage was replaced on the circle by Horton.
Horton would surrender a run on back-to-back doubles to open the sixth inning and the second Wildcat run with one out in the frame.
The Lady Indians recorded their final tally of the game Bailee Echols led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a single and scored on a two out single by Lumpkins.
Holmes took over in the top of the seventh inning and retired the side in order.
The Lady Indians threatened to take control early in the second game as Lumpkins and Elrod reached on one out singles.
After a force play, Shallyn Olszowy drilled an offering over the left field fence for what appeared a three-run home run.
However, the umpire ruled the ball went to the left of the foul pole and after some discussion, she would return to the plate and was retired on strikes.
The Panthers responded by scoring a single run in the bottom of the first inning, but the Lady Indians responded with the tying run in the top of the second inning.
After the first two batters were retired in the frame, Echols and Roberson reached by walk and Duffel followed with a RBI single to left field.
Lumpkins followed by hitting a flyball to center field, however, it was caught and the frame ended.
The Panthers assumed the lead for good in the bottom of the frame as they scored twice and added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
The Lady Indians scored a run as Elrod singled, stole second and came home on a single by Olszowy.
Maggie Stubbs started for EC and came out with two outs in the bottom of the third inning after being hit by a line drive.
Holmes took over in the circle and pitched the final two and one-third innings of the game. 
 

Gopie has five RBI day in EC win

Gaby Gopie had two hits and
five RBIs in Tuesday's win.
Photo by Paula Stubbs

SHARPSBURG-The junior varsity version of the East Coweta Lady Indians proved their offensive might Tuesday night as a seven run second inning led to a 13-0 win over the Ola Lady Mustangs.

The four inning win at home improved the Lady Indians' record to 13-1. 

Gaby Gopie opened the scoring for EC as her sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first inning led to the first run as Kate Miller scored third after the latter reached on a triple.

In the second inning, the Lady Indians began their barrage as Addie Howell led off with a walk, stole second and moved to third on a single by Hayden Chaffin before Rylee Gordy drove both home with a double to left.

An infield single by McKenna Holmes and a walk to winning pitcher Camryn Horton loaded the bases for Miller who reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Gordy to score.

A single by Gopie scored Holmes and after Jenna Helmly reached on a walk, Ola pitcher Gracie Whitfield appeared to have stopped the scoring as she retired the next two batters.

However, the hitting would resume as Howell batted for the second time in the frame and responded with a two-run single to center field.

Jenna Helmly scored twice Tuesday in the win.
Photo by Paula Stubbs

The margin was more than enough for Horton who benefitted from a double play to escape a bases loaded jam in the top of the third inning.

The Lady Indians added to their lead in the bottom of the third inning when Holmes and Horton singled while Miller reached on an error to load the bases.

Gopie cleared the bases with a double and walked off the field with five RBIs in the game.

A walk to Helmly was followed by a force play, but a pair of runs followed as an infield error allowed Helmly and McKinley Johnson to score the final runs of the game.

In the circle, Horton was effective as she allowed four hits while recording five strikeouts.

Offensively, Miller had two hits and scored three runs while Gopie also had two hits and Helmly scored twice.

Next opponent for EC will be the McIntosh Lady Chiefs in a junior varsity game Monday afternoon at 5:30 before a doubleheader Wednesday at home against Bremen.   

ECJV sweeps in Heard County Tournament

East Coweta pitcher Camryn Horton was the winning
pitcher in the Lady Indians' 5-2 win over Heard County
in the Lady Braves junior varsity tournament.
Photo by Stuart Crosby

FRANKLIN-The junior varsity version of the East Coweta Lady Indians had to brave the heat and several teams to come away with a three-game sweep in the Lady Braves Invitational at Heard County High School.

In the first game, the Lady Indians spotted the home team a run in the bottom of the first inning before scoring in the fourth to come away with a 5-2 win over the Heard County Lady Braves.

The Lady Indians defeated the Harris County Lady Tigers 3-2 as Avery Batten had a two-run single in the bottom of the sixth inning and McKenna Holmes scattered seven hits over five innings in an 8-0 shutout over the Villa Rica Lady Wildcats.

The record stands at 9-1 for the Lady Indians who will travel to Zebulon to face the Pike County Pirates in the first of four games scheduled during the week.

After the Lady Braves scored a run in the bottom of the first in the opener, the Lady Indians tried to answer in the top of the second inning as they loaded the bases with one out.

However, an infield fly and a strikeout ended the frame and the scoring opportunity.

The Lady Indians had another opportunity and made it pay off as they scored all of their runs in the contest.

Winning pitcher Camryn Horton led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a throwing error.
With Kate Miller reaching first on the error and Gaby Gopie at the plate, the Lady Braves' pitcher threw a wild pitch and both runners advanced a base.
Gopie walked to load the bases for Jenna Helmly who hit a two run single to give the Lady Indians a 2-1 lead.
A walk to Hayden Chaffin reloaded the bases and three wild pitches followed with three runs and a 5-1 EC lead.
Horton ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth as Heard mounted a comeback but the latter scored one run as the inning and the game ended. She allowed three hits and recorded four strikeouts.

Baylor Mikell reaches high at first base to receive
a throw in one of the three games played.
Photo by Paula Stubbs

After a productive lunch break, the Lady Indians surrendered a pair of runs in the top of the second inning and it appeared the Lady Tigers had the game in hand as EC batters had trouble at the plate.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Lady Indians rallied as Maddie Linden reached on an error and moved to second on a bunt single by Kate Walker.

With one out, Helmly drilled a flyball to deep center field allowing Linden to come home with a run and Miller to waltz into third with the tying run.

With the tying and winning runs at the plate, Batten overcame an 0-2 count and drilled a ground ball to right field allowing Helmly to race home with the winning run.

Natalie Thompson started the game for EC and allowed four hits in five innings and recorded eight strikeouts.

Rylee Gordy pitched a flawless sixth inning with strikeout and was the winning.   

McKenna Holmes was the winning 
pitcher in the Lady Indians' 8-0 win
over Villa Rica. Photo by Paula Stubbs

The nightcap belonged to Holmes in the circle and a hitting attack that started in the first inning as Walker was hit by a pitch, stole second, advanced to third on a fielding error and scored when Helmly grounded out to third.

The Lady Indians added a run in the bottom of the second inning as Baylor Mikell opened with a walk and eventually scored from third on a sacrifice fly by Addy Howell.

 In the bottom of the third inning, all doubt was erased as EC scored six runs to put the game in cruise control.

Hailee Vance doubled and moved to third on a single by Brooklynn Fisher before coming home when Miller was retired on a close groundout.

Gopie followed with an RBI single and after Helmly hammered a double, Batten drilled a single that scored courtesy runner Sydney Stubbs and Helmly to widen the lead.

Batten came home on a double by Mikell who scored the final run of the game when Howell grounded out to second.

The 8-0 margin was more than enough for Holmes who had very little trouble in the final two innings.

Howell and Batten each had two RBIs in the game while Mikell scored two runs.

In the tournament Helmly was 4-for-6 with four RBIs, Batten had four RBIs and Walker scored three runs.

Solid pitching, hitting key to ECJV sweep at Heard tourney

Jada Savage tossed a three hitter in East Coweta's 4-2 win  
over Heard County. At the plate during the series,
she was 6-for-8 with a HR and three RBIs.

FRANKLIN-Solid pitching by Jada Savage, Maggie Stubbs and Mckenna Holmes was aided by strong hitting as the East Coweta Lady Indians junior varsity squad swept three games Saturday in the Heard County JV Day.
In game one, Savage allowed three hits and recorded 13 strikeouts in five innings and had an RBI double as the Lady Indians defeated the hosts 4-2 on Saturday, while Stubbs recorded a three-hitter as EC defeated Harris County 9-0.

In the finale, Holmes walked one batter as the offense did most of the damage in 15-0 three-inning domination of Mt. Vernon.

The opening game was tied at 2-2 when EC took the lead in the top of the fifth with two runs in the top of the fifth inning.

Stubbs led of the frame by reaching on a  

 walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch before going to third as Riley Ratzlaff grounded out to second base.

A wild pitch allowed Stubbs to score and Payton Roberson, who reached on a walk went to second before scoring on a had hit double by Savage.

Savage retired the side in order in the bottom of the frame with two of her baker's dozen in strikeouts.

The Lady Indians took the initial lead in the third inning  as Stubbs reached on a bunt single and Ratzlaff on a double before Roberson singled home Stubbs with the first run.

Ratzlaff scored from third as a throw from the Lady Braves' catcher was able to retire Roberson on an attempted steal of second.

The Lady Braves scored both of their runs in the bottom of fourth inning on a wild pitch and a throwing error.

Savage and Roberson each had two hits in the contest.

In the second game against the Lady Tigers, Stubbs received run support early as EC had to work to scored three runs in the game's opening frame.

Ratzlaff opened the contest by reaching on a walk, Roberson was hit by a pitch and Savage reached on an infield single that loaded the bases with nobody out.

However, back-to-back force plays at the plate produced two outs and the Lady Tigers looked like they were going to escape the frame unscathed.

Enter Elizabeth Austin who showed some toughness as she was hit by a pitch that scored Savage for the first run and Gabriella Gopie followed with a single to center field that brought home two runs to give the Lady Indians a 3-0 lead.

That was enough for Stubbs who got through the first inning with solid defense behind her as Harris County had two runners stranded.

For good measure, Stubbs would receive more offensive support as EC added five more runs to take an 8-0 lead.

Stubbs aided her own cause with a single and moved to second when Ratzlaff grounded out.

After Roberson was awawarded first on catcher's interference and Savage singled, Sami Whitewall doubled to left with Stubbs and Roberson scoring and Savage motoring into third.

A sacrifice fly by Jenna Helmly scored Savage from third and Austin followed with an RBI double and the final run scored as an error allowed Gopie to score.

The final run of the game came in the top of the fourth as Savage finished a 3-for-3 game at the plate with a solo home run over the right field fence.

Stubbs was never in a tough spot during the game as she retired 11 in a row at one point.

Game three will be one that Mount Vernon may forget as EC sent 16 batters to the plate with 13 coming home.

The scoring began as Ratzlaff walked and stole second before scoring as Roberson doubled to left field who came home after a double by Savage.

The remainder of the frame saw RBIs from Whitehall, Ratzlaff and Roberson in the second at bat for both in the frame and Helmly.

Other runs came through a couple of wild pitches and infield errors.

Holmes, who allowed one hit and one walk while in the circle, finished the EC scoring with a two run single in the bottom of the second inning.

  

 

Dominating pitching by Savage, Holmes lead ECJV to win

Jada Holmes pitched the first three innings
of East Coweta's 6-3 win over Northgate in
Monday's junior varsity game.

The junior varsity version of the East Coweta Lady Indians hoped to open their 2021 season a week ago but Mother Nature stepped in with lightning.

The Lady Indians tried again Monday and despite the rain, recorded a 6-3 win over the Northgate Lady Vikings with dominating pitching from Jada Savage and McKenna Holmes.

East Coweta took the lead in the top of the second inning when Carlie McElroy doubled to center field off Northgate pitcher Cassidy Sechrest and came home on a one out single by Jenna Helmly. 

Helmly stole second and eventually came home on a two out single to left field by Samantha Whitehall for the second run of the frame.

The Lady Indians took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Riley Ratzlaff reached on a one out triple and came home on a sacrifice fly to left field by Mallory Lumpkins.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Lady Indians added to their lead as Payton Roberson reached on a leadoff single and scored on a triple by Helmly who came home on a sacrifice fly by Savage.

Helmly was 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and two RBIs.

After three perfect innings which included seven strikeouts, Savage was replaced by Maggie Stubbs.

Stubbs would struggle as the Lady Vikings rallied for three runs to cut into the lead before Holmes took over in the circle.

In three innings, Holmes allowed a hit and recorded three strikeouts.

The Lady Indians got one of the runs back in the top of the fifth inning as Roberson reached on a leadoff single, stole second and scored on a single by Savage.

Roberson was 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored in the game.

Chelbi McElwaney went 1-for-2 at the plate to lead the Lady Vikings in hitting.

NOTE: The varsity game that was scheduled between EC and Northgate will be played September 13 at 5:30.

Both junior varsity teams will play this weekend in the Georgia Dugout Club tournament at Hunter Park with the two meeting on Saturday morning at 9:00.

The varsity version of the Lady Vikings will play Wednesday at Newnan against the Lady Cougars at 6:45. 

Panthers split playoff series with Gators

Daniel Courtney allowed two hits in Starr's Mill's
12-2 six inning win over Ware County in Game Two
of their semifinal playoff series.

FAYETTEVILLE-After dropping game one of their Saturday evening AAAAA semifinal playoff series with the Ware County Gators, the Starr's Mill Panthers would need a solid effort in game two in order to extend their season. 

Mission accomplished for the Panthers as they overcame a 2-0 deficit with runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to come away with a 12-2, six-inning win over the Gators in the nightcap as Daniel Courtney tossed a two-hitter.

The Panthers (28-11) will face the Gators in the rubber game Monday afternoon at 4:00 with the winner slated to advance to the final series and face the survivor of the series between Loganville and St. Pius X which begins Monday.

The day started with the Gators scoring twice in the top of the seventh inning to reclaim the lead in a 6-5 win as three players had at least two hits.

The nightcap started in the favor of the Gators when Caleb Stewart opened the bottom of the first inning and eventually came home with the initial run as he scored from third on a groundout by Trey Jeffars.

The Gators extended their lead in the bottom of third inning as Stewart walked and after advancing around to third base, came home on a sacrifice fly by Noah Hooks.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Panthers scoring barrage began as White singled to left field and advanced to second on an error and Chay Yeager followed with a single that sent courtesy runner Austin Killingsworth to third.

A sacrifice fly to center field by Eli Jones scored Killingsworth from third and the Panthers were on the scoreboard.

After Courtney retired the Gators in order in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Panthers' scoring attack continued with three runs in the top of the fifth inning.

Heath Whitlock walked to open the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Evan Harrah before scoring the tying run on a double by Thad Ector.

Josh Tate followed with a single and both came home as White lined a double to center field and the Panthers had a 4-2 lead.

The Panthers broke the game open in the top of the sixth inning as Whitlock, Tate, White and Courtney were among those who contributed to the frame.

Courtney retired the side in order ion the bottom of the inning to end the contest.

In the opener, Ware County opened the scoring when Caleb Stewart hit the first pitch of the game over the right field for a solo home run.

Starr's Mill came back to tie the game in the bottom of the first as Josh Tate reached on an infield error and eventually scored when starting pitcher lined a single to right field.

The Gators regained the lead in the top of the third inning as J Aspinwall walked and Jett Justice singled to right field with Stewart following by hitting a double to right that brought Aspinwall home.

Justice advanced to third on the Stewart double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Trey Jeffars to give the Gators a 3-1 lead.

The Panthers tried to rally in the bottom of the fourth inning as White doubled to left field and after Eli Jones reached on an error, Courtney grounded into a fielder's choice allowing courtesy runner Killingworth to score from third base.

Ware County reclaimed a two run advantage in the top of the sixth inning as Jeffars reached on a one out single to center field and with two

 outs 

Shi Christmas hit a mishandled pop fly that allowed courtesy runner Weathersby to score.

The lead was short lived as Starr's Mill came back in the bottom of the frame with three runs to assume a 5-4 lead.

With one out, 

Jones reached on a bloop single to center field that allowed courtesy runner Bo Walker to reach second and Courtney followed by reaching on an infield error that loaded the bases.

Ryder Wagenknecht tied the game at 4-4 when he lined a double to right that allowed Walker and Jones to score. 

Courtney, who advanced to third on Wagenknecht's double, came home with the lead run when H Whitlock reached on a bloop single to center field and Panther fans were ecstatic.

Yeager, who went six innings, allowing four runs on five hits and recording five strikeouts, was relieved in the top of the seventh inning by Josh Tate.

The frame began well for Tate as he retired Aspinwall on strikes, but a double by Justice, a single by Stewart and a sacrifice fly to right field by Gators starting pitcher Hooks followed the game was tied at 5-5 as Justice scored.

The go ahead run scored as Jeffars doubled to left field allowing Stewart to scores and the Gators threatened to add to the lead as Barnes singled and Weathersby tried to scored but he was tagged out at the plate to end the frame.

Hooks would keep the Panthers from reclaiming the lead in the bottom of the frame as he allowed a single by White on the way to a seven-hitter.

White went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Starr's Mill in hitting while Stewart, and Jeffers each had three hits for Ware County. 

2021-2022 GHSA Football Schedule released

Submitted for your approval, the 2021 high school football schedule as released by the Georgia High School Association.

While changes could come at anytime, the Coweta area schools will have almost the same schedule as they did a year ago but the locations will change.

Newnan made one change that wasn't really a change as Carrollton is on the schedule this year and was on last year's schedule.

However, due to a COVID situation, that game was cancelled and Martin Luther King took the Trojans' place.

The Northgate Vikings will also be a mirror image of last year's campaign.

The Fayette-Coweta challenge will take place at Starr's Mill with the Panthers (9-2) hosting Newnan (9-2 in 2020) with East Coweta (10-2) facing Whitewater (5-6) and Northgate (4-6) facing Sandy Creek (2-4).

The Heritage Hawks have one change to their schedule as they will play Chattahoochee County and not Our Lady of Mercy of Fairburn.

Trinity Christian, the runnerup in Class A-Private, will have almost the same scheudle as a season ago with the exception of Hampton who is being replaced by Fellowship Christian.

Fayette County schools McIntosh Chiefs (0-10) and Fayette County Tigers (7-3) will also see no changes in their schedule while Sandy Creek will look to play a full 10-game schedule after only playing six a year ago due to COVID problems.

To look at all of the schedules click the link below.

2021-2022 GHSA Football Schedule