ECJV wins over arch-rival Newnan in JV game

SHARPSBURG-Several East Coweta Lady Indians had two hits to support the two hit pitching Jaliyah Holmes in 13-1 victory over the Newnan Lady Cougars in a Junior varsity matchup between the rivals played Monday.

After Holmes retired the Lady Cougars in order to start the game, the Lady Indians came back in the bottom of the first inning with four runs.

With one out, Katie Taylor and Olivia Cook reached after the two were hit by a pitch and Ansley Duffey followed with a single.

A single by Ashleigh Campbell scored Taylor and Cook with the first two runs of the game and after an infield pop, Madison Lecuona was hit by a pitch to reload the bases.

Kylie Ferguson and Savana Murphy had run scoring singles that gave EC a 4-0 cushion.

The Lady Indians added to the lead in the bottom of the second inning as Kenadie Cooper led off with a triple and scored as Taylor hit a sacrifice fly to center field.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Lady Indians broke the game open as they scored five times to take a 10-0 lead.

With one out, Macie Wiggins reached base and stole second before coming home on a single by Lecuona who advanced to second on a single by Ferguson.

A pitching change was made by Newnan and Murphy responded by reaching on a walk and Holmes aided her own cause with an RBI single.

An infield error led to another run as Murphy scored the final run of the inning.

The Lady Cougars avoided a shutout in the top of the fourth inning as Maggie Donaldson reached on an infield error and scored on a two out single by Miranda Alford.

In the bottom of the frame, the Lady Indians were able to end the game on the mercy rule as they collected three runs for the final margin.

Ashleigh Griffin led off with a walk and Wiggins reached on a single.

With one out, the twosome advanced on a wild pitch and after another wild pitch Griffin scored and Wiggins moved to third.

Ferguson reached on a one out walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch before coming home on an infield error.

Next for EC will be a doubleheader against Union Grove Wednesday beginning at 5:00. In the last meetings, the Lady Indians were 14-6 winners in the junior varsity game and 9-0 in the varsity game as Rachel Vaughan had a nine strikeout performance.

The games were played at McDonough.

23 and counting for EC

Photos courtesy of Barbara Lecuona

BUFORD-When we last saw East Coweta’s Kelley Lynch and Buford’s Logan Caymol do battle was a year ago at this time in the Grayson Ram Classic.

Played at Parkview, Lynch had a no-hitter for most of the game but Caymol was the winning pitcher in a 1-0 contest that saw each team record one hit,

Turn the clock to Saturday morning.

The stage is the field at Buford High School and the two aces are doing battle again but this time, Lynch is the winner as she tossed a two-hit, 10 strikeout performance in a 3-0 victory over the Lady Wolves.

The win was the first of two on the day for the Lady Indians as they defeated the Calhoun Lady Yellow Jackets 7-3 in the second game.

The sweep gave the Lady Indians a 23-0 record and the longest winning streak by a softball team in the county.

The two aces held the opposition scoreless through the first two innings then the Lady Wolves, the defending AAAA champions, blinked.

Carmen Prior and Lilly Agan led off the top of the third inning with singles and with Olivia Davis at the plate, Caymol threw a wild pitch and as the catcher attempted to get Prior out at third, the throw went into left field.

Carmen Prior had a triple and scored twice in the 3-0 win over Buford

Prior came home from third with the first run of the game and after moving to third, Agan came home with the second run of the inning on a single by Ashlynn Gunter.

The Lady Wolves blinked again with two outs in the top of the third inning as Prior lined a shot into right field and raced around the bases for a triple and came home on a single to left by Agan.

Agan was 4-for-4 at the plate with a run scored and the RBI.

Meanwhile, Lynch was in control throughout as she surrendered two hits to Hannah Jo Hyatt while holding the other Buford batters hitless as she allowed a walk and a hit batter while recording 10 strikeouts.

Among the Lady Indians that would be responsible for the 11 non-strikeouts was Ashlynn Gunter who handled seven chances at third with five putouts.

As for Caymol, the Lady Indians recorded six hits and 13 strikeouts against the future Tennessee Lady Volunteer.

After a brief interlude, the second game got underway with the Lady Indians serving as the home with Vaughan getting the Lady Yellowjackets in the top of the first inning thanks a defensive effort by Davis in which she leaped in the air and made a catch before throwing to first to complete a double play.

The Lady Indians gave Vaughan a 2-0 lead to play with in the bottom of the first as

two out RBI singles by Ashlynn and Ansley Gunter.

Lilly Agan was 4-for-4 against Buford with a run scored
and an RBI against Buford while scoring three runs
against Calhoun.

A single run in second inning gave EC a 3-0 lead as Prior walked and scored on single by Lynch and a single by Vaughan led to a 4-0 cushion as courtesy runner Kenadie Cooper) scored on single by Aniston Wright.

Two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning gave EC a 6-0 lead as Agan singled and scored on one out triple by Lynch who scored on an RBI single by Vaughan.

After pitching four innings that saw her allow two hits and record five strikeout, Vaughan turned the 6-0 lead over to Wright who retired the side in order in the top of the fifth inning.

The Lady Indians threatened to end the game in the bottom of the fifth inning as Agan reached on a one out walk and scored on a double by Lynch to take a 7-0 lead but Ashlynn Gunter was denied an extra base hit by a diving catch in right field and the game continued into the sixth.

Calhoun avoided a shutout in the top of the sixth with a two run home run and got a little closer in the top of the seventh inning with a run but were unable to get any closer as Wright ended the game with a strikeout.

The next game for the Lady Indians will be Wednesday as they will host the Union Grove Lady Wolverines at 6:00

The two teams met on September 15 with EC winning 9-0 as Vaughan recorded nine strikeouts. 

The streak grows to 21 after wins over West Laurens, North Gwinnett

                                         

Kelley Lynch and Aniston Wright combined for 14 strikeouts tosed a no-hitter in the Lady Indians' 7-0 win over West Laurens Lady Raiders while Rachel Vaughan had a season high 11 strikeouts in a 7-3 win over the North Gwinnett Lady Bulldogs.

SUWANEE-The trip to Gwinnett County on Friday was profitable for the East Coweta Lady Indians as they swept two games to run their unbeaten streak to 21 games.

The Lady Indians will look to add to the total Saturday morning when they travel to Buford to face the Lady Wolves at 9:00 and will face the Calhoun Lady Yellowjackets at 11:00.

In the first game, Kelley Lynch and Aniston Wright combined for a no-hit, 14 strikeout day in a 7-0 win over he West Laurens Lady Raiders while in game two, Rachel Vaughan set a season high for strikeouts with 11 as the Lady Indians defeated the North Gwinnett Lady Bulldogs 7-3 on the latter’s home field.

The opener went into the favor of EC as Lilly Agan reached on a triple then scored on a single by Olivia Davis who stole second and moved around to score on a pair of groundouts.

The score 2-0 as Lynch and West Laurens starter Payten Strickland were retiring batters at quick pace until the bottom of the fourth inning as EC added two more runs after the first two batters were retired.

Vaughan reached on a single and after walks to Wright and Hanna Miller, Ansley Gunter hit ball that went between the second baseman and shortstop.

In the bottom of the sixth inning the Lady Indians finished scoring as Vaughan reached on a leadoff single and after Caroline Lively reached on a two out walk, Carmen Prior laced an offering from Strickland into the outfield for a two-run double.

Meanwhile, Lynch was doing her thing with the strikeout ball with a few walks and a coupe of hit batters as the only way the Lady Raiders were able to get on base.

Wright took over in the top of the seventh inning and made it look easy as she retired the first two batters on groundouts before closing the no-hitter with a strikeout.    

In the nightcap, the Lady Bulldogs took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning with an unearned run  but the lead didn’t last long as the Lady Indians came back in the top of the third inning.

Prior and Agan reached on consecutive one out singles and Davis reached on a walk to load the bases and Lynch followed with a two-run single.

Ashlynn Gunter followed with an RBI groundout and Vaughan aided her own cause with a double to left field.

The Lady Bulldogs came back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to cut the margin to 4-3, but the Lady Indians got one of the runs back in the top of the fourth inning as Hanna Miller reached on a one out double and Agan followed with a single that scored pinch runner Caison Byars.

The Lady Indians added to the lead in the top of sixth inning lined a shot over the left center field fence for a solo home run and added one more in the top of the seventh inning as Lynch reached on a two out double and Ashlynn Gunter followed with a triple to right field that scored pinch runner Katie Taylor.

Vaughan finished the game in the bottom of the as she induced a pair of groundouts to Davis at second and ended the game by recording her 11th strikeout. 

Ferguson, Cooper lead ECJV to win over Alexcander JV

Photo courtesy of Barbara Lecuona 

Kenadie Cooper gets a fist pump from assistant coah Kyle Bowman
in Monday's JV game at Alexander. EC was a 5-0 winner behind three hits from Cooper

 DOUGLASVILLE-Kenadie Cooper was 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and Kylie Ferguson allowed three hits and recorded five strikeouts Monday as the East Coweta Lady Indians defeated the Alexander Lady Cougars 5-0 in a junior varsity contest.

The Lady Indians scored early in the game as Cooper singled to start the game, stole second and moved to third on a passed ball before scoring when Olivia Cook grounded out to third.

In the top of the second, EC added to the lead as Madison Lecuona reached on a one out double and was able to score on a single to right by Ashleigh Campbell.

Meanwhile, Ferguson was carving through the Alexander order as she faced two over the minimum through the first four innings of play.

The Lady Indians added to the lead in the top of the fifth inning as Cooper reached on an infield single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Katie Taylor before coming home on a two out single by Ansley Duffey.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Lady Indians recorded their final tallies of the game after two outs as Campbell reached on an infield error and Jaliyah Holmes reached on a mishandled third strike.

Ferguson aided her own cause with a single that scored Campbell with Holmes advancing to third on the play before coming home on a wild pitch.

The margin was enough for Ferguson as she allowed a two out single before ending the game on a fielder’s choice. 

EC wins extra inning affair with Alexander, pitchers record 19 Ks

Photos courtesy of Barbara Lecuona

 

 

Aniston Wright (top), Rachel Vaughan (center)  and Kelley Lynch (bottom) combined to retire 18 of 30 Alexander batters by strikeout.

DOUGLASVILLE-Anybody who felt the Monday evening non-region softball contest between the East Coweta Lady Indians and the Alexander Lady Cougars would be close did not leave disappointed.
In the battle between the top-ranked team in class AAAAAAA (EC) and the defending AAAAA champs (Alexander). 10 innings were required to determine a winner and when the final out was record, the Lady Indians had a 4-3 victory.

By virtue of the win, the Lady Indians remain undefeated with an 18-0 record as they host the Wheeler Lady Wildcats on Tuesday in the final Region 2-AAAAAAA game of the season.

The Lady Cougars drop to 15-6 with the loss as they attempt to complete their Region 5-AAAAA schedule.

Fans also had the opportunity to witness a strong pitching performance as Kelley Lynch, Rachel Vaughan and Aniston Wright combined for 18 strikeouts and allowed seven hits over 10 innings.

The game was tied at 3-3 as the 10^th inning began with Lilly Agan on second base under the International Tiebreaker rule.

An infield single by Olivia Davis allowed Agan to move to third with Lynch coming to the plate.

With Lynch at the plate, Davis was able to steal second to get into scoring position but the former was unable to get either player home as she hit a pop to shortstop.

However, teammate Ashlynn Gunter picked her up with a sacrifice fly to center field allowing Agan to come home from third with the lead run for the Lady Indians.

In the bottom of the frame, Landry Solomon began at second base under the ITB rule for the Lady Cougars and advanced to third with the potential tying run on a wild pitch by Lynch.

However, Lynch recovered by retiring the first batter on a popfly to Gunter at third and the next two by swinging third strikes.

In five innings of relief, Lynch had 10 strikeouts while allowing one hit and two walks while hitting two batters.

The Lady Indians took the first lead of the game in the top of the first inning as Agan reached on a single and moved to third on a single by Lynch before eventually scoring on a sacrifice fly by Gunter.

After two outs in the bottom of the frame, the Lady Cougars came back to tie the game at 1-1 as Faith Shirley was hit by a pitch and courtesy runner Solomon was able to score on a double by Georgia Blair off Wright.

Alexander had a chance to take the lead in the bottom of the second inning with two runners on base and one out but Wright was able to end the threat with a strikeout and a pop to Davis at second base.

Vaughan took over for Wright on the pitching rubber in the bottom of the third inning and the senior recorded five strikeouts in the first two innings while allowing one hit.

Vaughan had trouble in the bottom of the fifth inning as the Lady Cougars scored twice to take a 3-1 lead.

The Lady Indians came back in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game at 3-3 as Ashlynn Gunter led off with a single and after one out, Vaughan and Ansley Gunter reached on singles that loaded the bases.

A wild pitch allowed Ashlynn Gunter to score and move pinch runners Kenadie Cooper and Katie Taylor into scoring position.

After the second out of the inning was recorded, Carmen Prior hit a ball to second that allowed Cooper to score the tying run as Taylor was caught in a rundown before getting tagged out at third.

The Lady Cougars had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh inning with two runners on base and one out, but Lynch was able to end the threat with a pair of strikeouts that sent the game into extra innings.

Cook hits 1st HS dinger, Griffin, Taylor and Cooper have 3 hits each in ECJV win

Photo by Barbara Lecuona

McDONOUGH-The junior varsity picked up where the varsity left off Friday night as the East Coweta Lady Indians defeated the Union Grove Lady Wolverines 14-6 in a five inning Friday night affair.

The win improved the season record to 12-0-1 on the season with a matchup against Alexander looming.

The Lady Indians opened the scoring in the top of the first inning as Kenadie Cooper led off with a triple and came home as Katie Taylor hit a ground ball to third.

The Lady Wolverines tried to rally in the bottom of the inning with two runners on base with one out but starting pitcher Mollie Peacock recovered by recording a strikeout and induced a ground ball back to the pitching rubber.

The Lady Indians did most of their offensive damage in the top of the second inning as 11 batters went to the plate with seven coming home to gain a comfortable 8-0 lead.

Macie Wiggins and Madison Lecuona led off with singes and moved into scoring position after a solid sacrifice bunt by Ashleigh Campbell.

The umpire may not be excited but her EC teammates were as Olivia Cook gets a reception
after hitting a home run in the top of the third inning that was her first at the high school level.

A single scored Wiggins with Lecuona moving to third before Olivia Cook brought her home with a two out single to right field.

Ansley Duffey followed with a single and Ashleigh Griffin followed with a triple that scored Duffey and Cook.

Courtesy runner Ava Brooke Strickland came home with the final run of the frame as Macie Wiggins made her second at bat of the inning count with an RBI single.

After Peacock retired the side in order in the bottom of the second inning, EC added to their run total with three more in the top of the third inning.

Campbell, Jaliyah Holmes and Cooper led off with singles, but Cooper was erased on the front end of a double play as Campbell crossed home plate.

Cook picked up her teammates on the next at bat as she drilled a shot over the center field fence for a two-run home run that gave EC an 11-0 lead and was her first at the high school level.

Union Grove was able to get on the scoreboard with three runs in the bottom of the third inning with three runs.

After EC was retired in order in the top of the fourth inning the Lady Wolverines made the game closer with three more runs to cut the margin to 11-6.

However, the Lady Indians recovered to score three runs that led to the final margin.

Taylor reached on an infield error and moved to third on a ground out before scoring on a single by Duffey.

A double by Griffin scored Duffey and Griffin was able to score on Wiggins’ third hit of the night.

Holmes replaced Peacock on the pitching rubber in the bottom of the fifth inning and made quick work of the Lady Wolverines as she retired the side of order with a ground out and a pair of strikeouts.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

 

  

Vaughan dominates on pitching rubber, Gunters at the plate in EC win over UG

Photo courtesy of Nicole Vaughan

McDONOUGH-Any thoughts of a lull following the win over rival Newnan evaporated quickly on Friday as Rachel Vaughn fired a two-hitter and recorded nine strikeouts to lead the East Coweta Lady Indians to a 9-0 win over the Union Grove Lady Wolverines.

The win improved the Lady Indians’ overall record to 17-0 while Union Grove fell to 9-8 after the non-region contest.

The Lady Wolverines threatened to score first as Vaughan allowed a single to Emily Coltharp and a one out walk to Leslie Cochran but consecutive strikeouts by the senior lefthander ended the threat.

In the top of the second inning, the Lady Indians were able to take advantage of their scoring opportunity as Ashlynn Gunter reached on leadoff single and eventually came home on a two out single by Ansley Gunter.

Rachel Vaughan had a dominating night on the mound
Friday night at Union Grove as she allowed two hits, one walk, one hit batter
 and nine strikeouts

After Vaughan breezed through the bottom of the second inning with a groundout and two strikeouts, EC was able to add to the lead in the top of the third as Lilly Agan utilized her speed for a double and moved to third on a wild pitch before coming home on a sacrifice fly by Kelley Lynch.

Olivia Davis accounted for the other run in the inning as she came home on a double by Ashlynn Gunter.

The Lady Indians weren’t finished adding to the lead as Carmen Prior opened the top of the fourth inning with a single while Agan reached on a walk.

After both advanced on a groundout by Davis, Lynch hit a ground ball that was mishandled in the infield and Prior came home from with the fourth run of the game.

A two-run double by Ashlynn Gunter accounted for a 6-0 lead and gave the senior infielder a 3-for-3 evening at the plate.

Union Grove changed pitchers in the top of the fifth inning but EC remained in a scoring mood as they added three more runs in the top of the frame.

Vaughan walked to open the inning and Ansley Gunter collected her second hit of the game with a single to center field.

Caison Byars came off the bench to lay down a sacrifice bunt that advanced courtesy runner Kenadie Cooper and pinch runner Katie Taylor into scoring position.

Prior made her second hit of the game count as her single to left scored Cooper from third and moved Taylor to third who later scored on a wild pitch.

The final run scored when a ball was mishandled in the infield allowing Prior to race home.

Meanwhile, the benefactor of the run support was able to dominate the Lady Wolverine bats as Vaughan was able to get 14 first pitch strikes on the 19 batters that came to the plate in the game.

She also had three innings where Union Grove was retired in order with a hit batter interrupting the streak.

Next on the EC schedule is a trip to where for a date with the Alexander Lady Cougars on Monday in a rematch of the two clubs.

The Lady Indians were 8-0 winners on August 23 in a game played in Sharpsburg that was called after six innings.

In that game, Hanna Miller and Ashlynn Gunter hit home runs while Agan and Davis had triples and Lynch had a no-hitter.