Dr. Backes performs surgery as EC Bullets team split in 16U games at Legacy Showcase

POWDER SPRINGS-As the ace for the Starr's Mill Lady Panthers, pitcher Lilli Backes went through the 2019 season  carving up foes at the plate.

Lilli Backes (Starr's Mill) bats in one the EC Bullets (Heggood/Backes)
games Saturday at Lost Mountain Park. IN game one, she tossed a one hit,
seven strikeout performance against Lady Lightning Gold.

The 2020 summer travel ball season is no exception as she tossed a one-hitter Saturday as the EC Bullets (Heggood/Backes) defeated the Lady Lightning Gold Futures 4-0 in a 16U game of the Legacy Showcase at Lost Mountain Park.
Unfortunately, the Bullets could only manage a split as they came on the short end of a 3-2 loss to the Firecrackers GA (Cooper).
The first game was scoreless until the bottom of the third inning as Camille Mackedon reached on a one out infield single and raced around the bases for a run as Ava Brooke Strickland (East Coweta) lined a shot into left center field for a double.
The Bullets added to the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning as Backes and Kip Heggood (East Coweta) reached on infield miscues.
A single allowed courtesy runner Bailey Echols (East Coweta) to score while Heggood stole second and scored on a throwing error while Zoe Cook (Bremen) was responsible for the final run with an RBI groundout.
The margin was more than enough for Backes who recorded at least one strikeout in every frame en route to a seven strikeout performance 10 first pitch strikes.
The only hit surrendered came in the top of the fifth inning with two walks as the only other times LLG had a runners on base.
In the game against the Firecrackers, the Bullets took a 1-0 lead as Emma Elrod (east Coweta) scored from third on an infield error.
The Firecrackers tied the game in the bottom of the first inning against starter Abby Henderson but the Bullets came back in the top of the second inning. when Cook drilled a shot over the left field fence for a solo home run.
The 2-1 lead held for a couple innings as Henderson retired a string of eight batters in nine at bats with a third inning single being the only dent.
The Firecrackers came back in the bottom of the fourth inning as a pair of errors and a sacrifice fly accounted for the scoring.
The Bullets tried to rally as Madison Moreland singled and Madison Cosgrove reached after being hit by a pitch.
However, they were unable to score as a strikeout and a groundout ended the contest.
In defeat Henderson allowed four hits and recorded a pair of strikeouts.     
NOTE: The Bullets rebounded Sunday morning with a 2-1 victory over Florida Impact (Page). Details are unavailable. 

Chili Dogs light fireworks with two five-run innings against ASAA

EMERSON-The Home Plate Chili Dogs (Argila) struck early and kept the pressure going Saturday morning as they drilled the ASAA 18U Nationals 12-2 in a State Games of Georgia contest played at Lakepoint.
The Chili Dogs will play again on Sunday at 10:15 against the Sandy Plains Wildcats 18U in a bracket game while the Nationals will play the Roswell Hornets in a 12:30 consolation game.
Home Plate took the early as Jett Lovett opened the game by reaching on a walk and quickly scored on a double to left field by Garrett Carter (Ola).
In the top of the third inning, the Chili Dogs took a commanding lead with a five-run frame that gave them a 6-0 lead.
Kile Greenwald (Whitewater) led off with a single and after one out, Daniel Courtney (Starr's Mill) reached on an error and Dekel Williams (East Coweta) singled to load the bases.
Greenwald scored when Lovett walked then Carter recorded a pair of RBIs with a triple before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Michael Maginnis (Newnan). 
The Chili Dogs added to their lead in the top of the fourth inning as Yates Kelleher (Newnan) reached on an error and later scored on a single to left by Courtney.
Nationals got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning and in the fifth with the bases loaded and one out, but Lovett came to the mound and the Newnan Cougar retired the next two batters to keep the margin at 7-2.
The Chili Dogs put a resounding boom to their firecracker of an offense in the top of the sixth inning as they added five more runs.
With two outs and the bases loaded, Courtney lined a two-run single to left field and Williams followed with a shot to right field that resulted in a three-run inside-the-park home run.
Lowery retired the side in the top of the sixth inning to end the game. 
Connor Smith (Trinity Christian-Sharpsburg) started the game by allowing three hits in three scoreless frames 

Home Plate (Black) ties Midwest (Wis.) Halos in 15U tournament game

PEACHTREE CITY-The Home Plate Chili Dogs (Black) came from behind to score twice in the bottom of sixth inning Monday but had to settle for a 2-2 tie with the Midwest (Wisconsin) Halos as part of the 15U WWBA tournament at Home Plate.
The Chili Dogs (Black) will play Tuesday at 12:30 against Georgia Select in another tournament game.
The game was a scoreless contest in the first three innings between Lathen Baynard (of Home Plate and Presley Wachowiak of the Halos.
The Halos got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning as Aj Rieck singled and scored on the front end of an error in the outfield on a single by Jack Anderson who later scored on a double by Dylon Sass.
This would be the only damage against Baynard who allowed four hits with six strikeouts in his stint as he gave way to Elijah Edwards (East Coweta).
Edwards proved to be equally as difficult against the Halos as he allowed two hits while recording five strikeouts.
After five innings in which he allowed three hits and recorded six strikeouts, Wachowiak was replaced on the mound by Sass who had trouble as London Gresham (Pike County) walked and Ben Hollenbeck (East Coweta) followed with a single.
Pinch runner Carson Gaston (Pike County) took third on the single and Hollenbeck took second on the throw.
After the first out of the inning, Jacob Medina (East Coweta) reached on an error that allowed Gaston to score.
Hollenbeck scored the tying run on a close play at the plate when Nathan Murray (East Coweta) and during the play, Medina raced around to third and Murray took second as the Halos failed to call time.
However, the Chili Dogs were unable to take advantage of the mental mistake as Sass retired the next two batters.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Home Plate had a chance to win the game with as Chase Arrington (Northgate) singled and Tate Morris (McIntosh) was hit by a pitch, but Sass was able to induce a ground out to end the game.

Home Plate (Dyal) cruise in 15U tournament game 10-1

The Home Plate Chili Dogs (Dyal) hammered the Bullpen
Redstitch 10-1 in five innings Monday morning.

PEACHTREE CITY-Bryce Alewine led a 10-hit parade Monday with a 3-for-3 outing that included two rbis and a run scored as the Home Plate Chili Dogs (Dyal) defeated the Bullpen Redstitch 108 10-1 in a five inning game of the 15U WWBA National Championsip at the Home Plate facility.
The Chili Dogs will face the Birmngham  Bruins in a Tuesday afternoon game beginning at approximately 2:45 .
The Chili Dogs assumed control when Jayton Lucky (Westlake) reached on a one out walk and Kaleb Cost (Sandy Creek)followed by getting hit by a pitch.
After the second out was recorded, Alewine (Northgate) lined a shot to left center field for a two-run double as Lucky and Cost came home.
The Redstitch scored an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning that cut the deficit to 2-1 but a three run third allowed the Chili Dogs to take a 5-1 cushion.
With two outs, Wayne King (McIntosh) doubled and scored on a triple by Lucky who scored on a single by Cost who stole a pair of bases and was awarded home plate after a balk was called by an umpire.
The Chili Dogs added to the lead in the top of the fourth inning with a pair of runs as Alewine led off with a single, advanced to second on a groundout and after moving to third on a bunt single by Evan Harrah (Starr's Mill) came home on a single by Mason Trucks (Pike County).
Harrah scored a run on a balk to give HP a 7-1 cushion.
The Chili Dogs put the game away in the top of the fifth inning in a three-run frame as King reached on a one out walk, stole two bases and came home when the throw went in to left field.
Lucky, who reached base three times and scored three runs, followed with a double and stole third before scoring on an infield error that allowed Cost to reach first.
Cost would steal second and eventually scored on a throwing error. He accounted for the hat trick as well.
The margin was than enough for Brady Scott (Seiver County, TN) who tossed a three-hitter in the complete game recording four strikeouts while getting stellar play from his defense.

Pitching solid in pair of games in 18U tournament at Home Plate

PEACHTREE CITY-For the exception of one half-inning, runs were at a premium in games played Wednesday afternoon at the Home Plate Complex during the 18U Perfect Game World Wood Bat Association tournament.
Two games involved the Sox team of Senoia who faced the Mavz GA White team out of Peachtree City in the opener and finished with the BigStix out of McDonough.
In game one, four pitchers allowed two hits in seven innings as the Sox defeated the Mavz 3-0 while the BigStix scored all of their runs in the bottom of the third inning to come away with a 4-2 win over the Sox.

Former East Coweta player Caleb Cashion retired
all six batters he faced in the 3-0 win over the Mavz.

The Sox generated most of their offense in the top of the first inning as former Northgate Viking Christian Dyer reached on a fielders choice and with two outs Dyer's former high school teammate Donovan Cash reached on a dropped third strike.
Both came home as former Whitewater player Chris Buchanan lined a double to center field.
Mavz starting pitcher Jacob Thompson from Starr's Mill settled down and retired seven of the next eight before allow a single in the top of the fourth inning to East Coweta grad Jordan Kenty.
After Kenty was caught trying to steal second base, the Sox still had a chance to add to the lead as Cash doubled and Buchanan reached on a walk but Thompson was able to induce a pair of flyballs to end the threat.
Meanwhile, the combination of Brad Grasser (McIntosh), Caleb Cashion (East Coweta), Andrew Villiger (McIntosh) was holding the Mavz in check as they had a string of 14 consecutive batters retired after the second inning.

In a losing cause, the Mavz' Jacob Thompson gave
his club a quality start in four and one-third innings

The Mavz received solid pitching in the game from starter Jacob Thompson (Starr's Mill) who despite allowing the first two runs of the game was able to keep the Sox off base during his stint.
After recording his sixth strikeout of the day and allowing a walk in the top of the fifth inning, Thompson was replaced by former Whitewater Wildcats Jacob Bringuel who retired the next two batters in the frame and pitched through the sixth inning with the help of a 6-4-3 double play.
In the top of the seventh inning, Bringuel surrendered a walk to Cash and after two outs, hit Cashion and surrendered a single to J.J. Freed (East Coweta) that scored Cash then was relived by
Ryan Barber (East Coweta) who ended the frame.
Villiger manged to pitch into the seventh inning by getting a ground out before an infield error allowed Will Betsill (Whitewater) to reach.
After recording a strikeout, Villiger was replaced by Cash who allowed a pair of baserunners before ending the game by recording a strikeout.

In game two, the Sox' Jack Seppings (Landmark Christian) and the BigStix' Koby Dunn (George Walton Academy) manged to get through the first couple of innings with allowing a run.
The Sox would get on the scoreboard in the top of the second inning as Zachary Carlton (East Coweta) reached on a one out walk and scored on a two out single by Cash.
Dyer scored the second run when he came home from third when Buchanan was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the BigStix responded with scoring four times to take the lead.
With one out in the frame, three straight batters reached before Jaden Oden (Dutchtown) had an RBI single with a sacrifice fly and two run scoring singles to follow.
There weren't any more scoring threats as  the Sox had two batters reach base in the final four innings while the BigStix saw nine of 10 retire.

15U Home Plate teams split in tournament

London Gresham retired all six batters in two innings
Saturday in the 3-2 win over the Cobb Aces
by the Home Plate Chili Dogs (Black).

PEACHTREE CITY-It was one of those days that one of the Home Plate Chili Dogs would like to forget while another came back to win Saturday afternoon at "The Chuck".
In game one of the 15U Battle of the Southeast, the Excel Blue Sox scored in every inning to defeat the Home Plate Chili Dogs (West) squad 16-5 while the Home Plate Chili Dogs (Black) squad scored twice in
the bottom of the fifth inning to defeat the Cobb Aces 3-2.
The Chili Dogs (Black) will advance to the quarterfinal round Sunday afternoon at the East Cobb Complex to face a team yet to be determined.
The game started off as a pitching duel between Ryan Welborn of Cobb and Chase Arrington of Home Plate (Black) as both began with three solid innings.
Arrington surrendered a single run in the top of the first inning as Drew Fields scored on the front end of an attempted double steal that saw teammate Kaden Stephenson tagged out at second on a throw from catcher Blake Eisenpeter to second base.
Home Plate had a pair of scoring opportunities in the second and third innings, but Welborn managed to get out of each spot with the tying run on third base in each frame.
In the top of the fourth inning, Arrington surrendered a double and was replaced by Jacob Medina who surrendered a sacrifice fly that scored Cobb's second run but minimized the threat with a pair of strikeouts.
During his three inning stint, Arrington allowed two hits and recorded three strikeouts.
In the bottom of the frame, Welborn of Cobb surrendered a single to Elijah Edwards and after a pitching change, the latter moved to second on a passed ball and eventually score on a pair of consecutive groundouts.
In his his three inning stint, Welborn allowed three hits and recorded one strikeout as he invired his infield to participate on seven of the nine outs.
In the top of the fifth inning, London Gresham took over on the mound and went on a string as he retired the side in order and allowed his club to rally.
Kenshaun Mitchell beat the throw to first for an infield single, then stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Medina before coming home on a single by Eisenpeter that tied the game at 2-2.
Ben Hollenbeck ran for Eisenpeter and moved into scoring position with a stolen before advancing to third on a groundout and eventually scoring the lead run as he scored when Said Henry reached on a mishandled third strike.
That would be all Gresham needed as retired the side in order with a pair of ground outs and a strikeout.

Carter Hennon had a two-run double for Home Plate (West)
in the bottom of the first inning.

In the first game of the day, Excel scored five runs in the top of the first to take a lead they never relinquished.
Home Plate (West) came back with a pir in the bottom of the first inning as Carter Hennon hit a double that scored Jackson Divido and Carson Gaston.
The Blue Sox scored a run in the top of the second but the Westies came back with a run in the bottom of the frame as Adams Walls was hit by a pitch and eventually scored when a throw from the first baseman to the catcher was errant.
Excel put the game away with five runs each in the third and fourth innings.
Home Plate (West) moved closer in the bottom of the fourth inning as Jameson Inagawa and Divido had RBI singles. 
Divido was 1-for 2 at the plate while Inagawa reached twice on walks for Home Plate (West) while Brady Waugh had two hits and scored for Excel out of Oxford, AL.
 

Divido hurls one-hitter in game one, EC scores 10 in the second inning of nightcap in sweep

FAYETTEVILLE-Since the beginning of the 2020 baseball season, the freshman team at East Coweta
High School has been a group not liked by Mother Nature.

The Indians took out their aggressions on her Wednesday night as they dominated the junior varsity
version of the Fayette County Tigers with a doubleheader sweep.

East Coweta's Jackson Divido is delivering a pitch to a Fayette County 

during the first game of their doubleheader. Divido allowed one hit in 

five innings of a 9-1 win.

In game one, Jackson Divido tossed a one-hitter with five strikeouts in a 9-1 victory while the Indians

broke a tie in the bottom of the second inning with 10 runs and came away with a 14-2 win in a game

called in the middle of the fourth inning.

The opener was scoreless until the top of the second inning as the Indians scored four runs that gave them a lead that was never in doubt.

Elijah Edwards led off with walk and stole second and Nathan Murray reached on an infield error after one out with Edwards reaching third.

Edwards would score the first tally on a single by Mason Bordeaux and Divido aided his own cause with a two run double to left field.

After moving to third on a groundout, Divido would come home with the inning's fourth run on a double to left field by Conner McElroy.

The Indians' scoring continued in the top of the third inning as Evan Doss led off with a double and scored on a one out double to right center field by Edwards who would come home with a run courtesy of an infield error that allowed Henry Headrick to reach.

Headrick eventually moved to third on a passed ball and came home with the inning's final run on a single by Murray.

An infield error would prevent Divido from tossing a shutout but the his teammates would add two more runs in the top of the fourth inning for the final margin.

As for Divido's effort on the mound, the right hander would only have one inning of trouble as the Tigers had two runners on base and a run with one out in the top of the third inning.

However, trouble averted as he recorded a strikeout and a groundball hit to Doss at shortstop would end the frame.

The final two runs of the game came in the top of the fourth inning as Cooper Ramey and Doss reached on walks and would score after a pair of errors in the frame.

In the second game, the Tigers were the visiting team in their own facility and took advantage with a run in the top of the first inning.

The lead was shortlived, however, as McElroy walked and stole two bases before coming home with the tying run on a one out single Doss.

The bottom of the second inning became one that the Tigers may wish to forget as the Indians sent 14 batters to the plate and scored 10 runs for an 11-1 lead.

Kyle Collins led off with a walk, stole a base and moved to third when Bordeaux hit a fly ball to center field before coming home with the lead run on a wild pitch.

Ben Hollenbeck was hit by a pitch, stole second and moved to third and the plate on wild pitches and with two outs, McElroy followed with a triple to left field.

McElroy was 4-for-5 in the doubleheader with an RBI and three runs scored.

McElroy scored on a single by Ramey and after a walk to Doss, both would come home on wild pitches.

The frame that saw a number of walks afterward came to an end as Hollenbeck lined a bases clearing double over the center fielder's head.

After tossing a pair of innings that saw him allow one hit and record three strikeouts, Edwards was relieved by Dylan Nemeth in the top of third inning.

Nemeth would allow a run that cut the margin to 11-2, but manged to keep the Tigers from doing any real damage with a pair of strikeouts in the frame.

The Indians added three more runs in the bottom of the third inning as McElroy singled, moved to second on a groundout and came home on a double by Doss.

Doss, who reached base five times in six attempts during the doubleheader, would record his fourth run of the night as he came home on a RBI double to left field by L. J. Estrada who eventually came home with the final tally on a wild pitch.

The game came to an end in the top of the fourth as Nemeth retired the first batter on strikes and after a walk was able to get a double play hit to Hollenbeck at short who threw a strike to Estrada at first.