EC strikes early, defeats Heard County

Payton Roberson hit a solo home run in the top of the first inning
in Wednesday night's win over Heard County. Photo by Paula Stubbs

FRANKLIN-The East Coweta Lady Indians continued to resemble an imitation of the Atlanta Braves Thursday night with an 11-4 victory over the Heard County Lady Braves. 

East Coweta improved to 4-0 on the season as they prepare to participate in the Georgia Dugout Club Tournament with games against Tattnall Square and Stockbridge on Friday. 

The loss was the first after three wins for Heard County who are the defending state champion in class 1A. 

The Lady Indians opened the scoring in the first inning as Madison Duffel hit the game’s first pitch to left field for a double and score on a single by Mallory Lumpkins. 

Lumpkins, who advanced to second on a throw eventually came home on a single to left field by Addie Joiner. 

A sacrifice fly by Madisyn Weathers and a two out home run by Payton Roberson gave the Lady Indians a 4-0 lead and a double by Riley Ratzlaff led to the final run of the frame after an error. 

After a scoreless second inning, the Lady Indians added to the lead in the top of third inning with four runs. 

Roberson walked, Ratzlaff singled and Sophie Santiago reached on a walk to load the bases. 

A groundout by Kate Miller allowed Roberson to score and a fielder’s choice scored Ratlaff. 

A Lumpkins’ single and a sacrifice fly by Joiner gave the Lady Indians a comfortable 9-0 advantage. 

Savage was the early benefactor with three scoreless innings allowing one hit and recording five strikeouts before she was relieved by Maggie Stubbs. 

The Lady Braves got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning as a grand slam cut the score to 9-4 but weren’t able to get any closer. 

In the top of the sixth inning, the Lady Indians scored a run as Joiner singled and afte4r a groundout, a single by Savage allowed courtesy runner Jenna Helmly to score. 

Miller accounted for the final run of the game in the top of the seventh as she led of with a bunt single and eventually came home on a single by Joiner. 

McKenna Holmes tossed two successful frames in the last two innings seventh inning by retiring the side in order.

Junior Varsity victorious

The JV allowed for a sweep as a second inning run stood in a 1-0 four inning game.

Avery Batten led off  the top of the second inning with a double and moved to third on a groundout before scoring on a single by Summer Wilson.

Camryn Horton was the winning pitcher after allowing four hits and recording six strikeouts. 

EC hit parade continues in support of Stubbs

 

Madisyn Weathers was in a three of a kind mood
with three hits in as many at bats while scoring theee
times and delivering three RBIs in the win.
Photo by Paula Stubbs

SHARPSBURG-The early season hitting exploits for the East Coweta Lady Indians continued Monday afternoon as they defeated the Union Grove Lady Wolverines 9-0 in a non-region home contest.

The Lady Indians, who improved to 3-0 on the season will travel to Franklin on Wednesday to face the Heard County Lady Braves.

The scoring parade started in the bottom of the first inning as Madison Duffel led off with a single to center field, stole second and moved to third on a groundout before scoring on a sacrifice fly to left fieldby Addie Joiner.

Madisyn Weathers followed with a double to center field before coming home on a single to right by Jada Savage.

The Lady Indians were far from done in the bottom of the second inning as Kate Miller reached on single and stole two bases before Duffel reached on walk.

After two outs, Weathers continued letting opposing pitchers know that she is back with a single down the third base line that scored Miller and Duffel.

Weathers, who advanced to second on a throw home, scored the third run of the inning on a single to left by Savage.

Benefitting from the 5-0 advantage was Maggie Stubbs who sailed through the first three innings allowing one hit and enticing outs to the defense behind her.

Stubbs would allow a hit while striking out three batters in the top of the fourth inning before her teammates put the Lady Wolverines away.

Duffel started by reaching on an infield single and stole her third base of the game.

Mallory Lumpkins followed with an RBI double while singles by Joiner and Weathers gave EC a 7-0 lead.

After a groundout, Payton Roberson followed with an RBI single and Riley Ratzlaff closed out the scoring with a sacrifice fly to left field that brought Weathers home.

The game ended in the top of the fifth inning as Camryn Horton took over and after a pair of baserunners, retired the next three to end the contest.

Weathers led the hit parade with all threes by going 3-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored and three RBIs.

Roberson also went 3-for-3 while Savage went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

NOTE: The junior varsity was called in the bottom of the first due to lightning.

McKenna Holmes got out of a bases loaded situation in the top of the first while her teammates had two runners on base when the game was stopped.

EC JV dominate McIntosh JV

William Davey looks in for a sign before
delivering a pitch in the 13-0 win for
the East Coweta JV Indians.

 

SHARPBURG-The East Coweta Indians may not have struck early, but they did often as they dominated the McIntosh Chiefs 13-0 in a five inning junior varsity game.
The win improved the ECJV record to 11-7-1 for the season with games against Northgate and Woodward Academy on the horizon.

After being held scoreless in the bottom of the first inning, the Indians went to work with eight runs in the bottom of the second inning.

Aaron Abke led off the frame with a walk and after a double by Derrick Hand, Mason Smith followed with a double of his own that gave EC a 2-0 lead.

Cale Fenimore, Kris Colton and Logan Bence followed with RBI singles and the scoring binge concluded as Abke, Hand and Smith each reached on bases loaded walks.

The 8-0 cushion was more than enough for William Davey who was in complete control on the mound as he retired the first nine batters in order before surrendering a single to open the fourth inning.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Indians' bats were silent, but they became loud as they five runs to reach the final margin.

Conor Goltermann opened the frame but reaching on a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch before coming home on a single by Abke.

After Hand and Smith reached on walks to load the bases, courtesy runner Lathon Gibby scored on a wild pitch and Fenimore hit a ground ball to shortstop that was mishandled Hand and Smith to come home..

With two outs in the frame, Jackson Calderon walked and Jerred Clay followed by hitting a flyball to right that was mishandled and the final run came home.

In the top of the fifth inning, Davey retired the first two batters before allowing a single and 

recording the final out of the game.

In five innings of work, Davey allowed two hits while his defense made plays behind him.

Bence was 2-for-3 at the plate while Abke, Carson Kish, Lee, and Avery were among several players who had at least one hit.

        

EC freshmen conquer Locust Grove twice

East Coweta's Cayson Webb scores the second run of the first inning of game one of the doubleheader.

 

SHARPSBURG-Saturday was an  offensive explosion for the freshman version of the  East Coweta Indians as they swept the Locust Grove Wildcats in a doubleheader played at home.

A six run explosion in the bottom of first inning led to an 18-3 four inning win while an 11-run fourth inning led to a 16-1 victory.
The sweep improve the Indians' record to 12-2 on the season.
In the opener, the bottom of the first inning began when Jakob Gonzalez hit a sacrifice fly to center field with Isaiah Alford and Cayson Webb to score.

A walk to Jax Bowles, followed by a double from Dillon Hudson accounted for another run before RBI singles by Braxton Johnson and Aiden Lynd as well as a balk accounted for the rest of the barrage.

The Wildcats cut into the lead with three runs of their own in the to of the second inning, but the Indians responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame.

Alford singled and eventually came home on a single by Hagan Clifton while a sacrifice fly by Bowels led to a second run in the frame.

A passed ball allowed Hunter Bedenbaugh to come home and after Hudson had an RBI double, the lead was 10-3.

The Indians added a pair of runs with two outs in the bottom of the third inning as Bowles blooped a single to right field and in the fourth inning added six more to end the game.

Highlighting the second barrage of the game were run scoring singleby Bedenbaugh and Clifton as well as the second sacrifice fly of the contest by Bowles.

East Coweta's Logan Wynn allowed four hits
in the 18-3 winin game one of the doubleheader.

Benefitting from the huge run support was Logan Wynn who tossed four innings, allowing Clifton went 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs to pace the 12-hit attack by EC with Hudson having a 2-for-3 morning with a pair of RBIS.

In the second game, the Indians waited an inning before getting on the scoring with a five run second inning.

With one out, Ayden Tyler reached on a dropped third strike and Garrett Grantham was hit by a pitch before Webb reached on an error that loaded the bases.

A walk to Terry Tyler brought Ayden Tyler home for the first run of the game and after the second out of the inning, Bedenbaugh lined a double to center field that emptied the bases and give EC a 4-0 lead.

Bedenbaugh concluded the scoring when he came home on a single to center field by Bowles.

The Wildcats scored a run to avert a shutout in the top of the fourth inning, but the Indians came back with the 11-run explosion.

Webb led off with a single and scored on a one out double by Garrett Dingler and after a walk to Bedenbaugh, Bowles lined a triple to right field that scored both and the lead       was 8-1.

After a hit batter, Bowles came home on a single by Hudson and after a walk to Aiden Chester, a passed ball brought AJ Gates home and gave the Indians a 10-1 cushon.

The barrage was stopped momentarily by a strikeout but continued due to a couple of passed balls and bases loaded walks.

Bedenbaugh was the recipient and a contributor of the runs support as he allowed two hits and recorded four strikeouts over three innings before turning the game over toLynd who recorded three strikeouts.

Offensively, Bowles was 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBIS, Bedenbaugh had three RBIs, and Webb crossed home on three occasions.  

Alewine, Doss pitch, score runs in EC victory

 

Bryce Alewine tossed the first four innings for East Coweta
allowing three hits and recording six strikeouts. Alewine also scored
twice in the 7-1 win.

Bryce Alewine and Evan Doss appeared to be in a contributing mood Monday night as the East Coweta Indians met the Northgate Vikings at Hamilton Field.

The duo combined to allow five hits on the mound while combining to score three runs offensive as the Indians defeated the Vikings 7-1 on the Northgate campus.

The win improved the Indians' record to 6-2 while the Vikings fell to 1-5.

The first three innings were a pitching duel between Alewine and Northgate's Dom Ottone as both proved stingy in a scoreless tie.

The tie was broken in the top of the fourth inning as Alewine is hit by pitch and steals second before moving to third on a groundout before coming home on a single to left by Chance Izzo.

Northgate's Dom Ottone is shown warming up 
the game. The lefty allowed five hits on the
mound and had an RBI single in the game.

The lead was shortlived as the Vikings tied the game in the bottom of the inning as Ben Traxler reached on a leadoff single and scored a two-out single by Ottone.

Ottone, who allowed five hits and recorded three strikeouts on 63 pitches, was relieved by Tristan Brown in the top of the fifth and the Indians were able to regain the lead.   

Ben Hollenbeck opened the frame by reaching on a walk and stole second before scoring on an RBI single to left field by Doss.

East Coweta added to the lead as starting pitcher Bryce Alewine reached on a walk and with one out, Chance Izzo reached on a walk to load the bases.

Brown appeared to getting out of the inning, but an infield fly hit by Jansen Kenty was mishandled allowing Doss and Alewine to score.

In the bottom of the inning, Alewine was relieved by Doss who retired two of the first three batters with a single by Brown in between outs.

The inning came to an end as a baserunning error occurred as James Dubose reached on an infield single.

In four innings, Alewine allowed three hits and recorded six strikeouts on 66 pitches.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Indians added to the lead as Doss reached on a single and with one out, Blair drilled a pitch over the right center field fence for a two-run home run and the lead was 6-1.

The Indians recorded their final run of the evening in the top of the seventh inning when CJ Rivera singled and eventually scored when Doss reached on a fielder's choice.

Doss retired the side in order in the bottom of the frame to end the game and record the save.

In his three inning stint, Doss allowed two hits and recorded a pair of strikeouts.  

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.