Lady Indians look for successor to Chocallo

Over the last four softball seasons, East Coweta head coach Franklin Deloach usually had an automatic choice as to who his pitcher would be and rarely had to stray from that choice.
Megan Chocallo accounted for 85 of the 115 victories turned in by the Lady Indians including a 24-4 mark last year and set a number of other team records along the way.
When the Lady Indians take the field Monday evening against the Starr’s Mill Lady Panthers in a scrimmage and two days later host the Ola Lady Mustangs in a doubleheader, Deloach will be looking for someone to emerge as the next ace hurler as Chocallo will be leaving soon to pitch at Towson State University in Maryland.
“Losing her brings about a huge challenge for us on the mound,” Deloach said about the loss of his ace. “We will be tested this year on the mound with three sophomore pitchers that we will go with.”
The trio who will get the opportunity to succeed Chocallo will be Morgan Goree, Kaylin Wall, and Kayla Vincent.
“All three only pitched junior varsity last year,” Deloach explained. “We are hoping that at least one or two of them will step up this season.”
The trio will get their first opportunity Monday afternoon when the Lady Indians travel to Peachtree City for a scrimmage against the Starr’s Mill Lady Panthers beginning at 5:00.
The first regular season test for the trio will be Wednesday when they host the Ola Lady Mustangs in a doubleheader that will part of the Georgia Dugout Club Tournament.
While replacing Chocallo is a big concern for his club, Deloach will not have to worry about the rest of his team that finished last season with 33-5-1 record and their eighth straight trip to the Elite Eight state tournament.
Shemiah Sanchez, who was the Lady Indians Most Valuable Player a season ago and spent her summer playing internationally, helps gives EC a strength in the number three spot in the order after hitting .464 and led the team in rbis with 35.
Benefitting from Sanchez' batting skills will be second baseman and leadoff hitter Kia Smith and centerfielder Mekhia Freeman who gives the Lady Indians speed in the first two slots of the batting order.
Behind Sanchez in the batting order will be an experienced team including sophomore first baseman Maggie Morrow who could challenge the county home run record this year, senior catcher Reba Jones, junior outfielder Katey Lynch, junior infielder Lauren Liebe.
The Lady Indians will also be looking for production from senior outfielder Bailey Schmieder, junior catcher/infielder Hailey Baswell, sophomore outfielder Madison Carter, junior Gabby Freed, sophomore Jamie Vitale and junior Gracelynn Newmon.