Lady Dawgs advance to second round

The 32-team softball state playoff brackets dwindled down last week with 16 teams from each class advancing to the Sweet 16. The ECI Lady Dawgs inked their spot in the second round of the state playoffs by sweeping Telfair Co. last Wednesday. They easily dispensed of the number 4 team from region 4, 13-1 in the first game, and closed out the best of 3 series, winning the second game 12-0. The Lady Dawgs dominated the number 4 seed allowing just two Trojan runners to reach scoring position in the two games. ECI set the tone early in the first game against Telfair, exploding for 10 runs in the first inning with the first 8 batters reaching base. They added 3 more in the third inning to run rule the Trojans from McRae 13-1. The Lady Dawgs blasted 11 hits during the game. Multiple hitters were Jayna Kearson 3 hits, with Senaria Hillman, Kinley Grimes, and Lola Walden ending the game with 2 hits each. Mary Katherine Durden held the Trojans to just 3 hits, zero walks with 8 strikeouts. It took 5 innings in the second game to send the visiting team home with a 12-0 shutout.

ECI matched their 11 hits during the first game with Kearson, Dot Russell and Durden getting multiple hits with 2 each. Durden was once again on the mark allowing just 2 hits, striking out 10 Trojan Batters.

The Bulldogs hosted the Bulldogs from Trion High School on Tuesday, October 22, in a double header in the best of 3 series. The “if needed” game is scheduled for Wednesday, October 23. Results of second round will be in next week’s edition of The Forest-Blade.

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Trion, just north of Rome, plays out of region 7 and enters the second round with a 12-9 season and 4-2 region record. The Bulldogs are the number 2 seed with Bowden taking the region crown. Trion advanced to the next round by sweeping Marion Co., 11-3 in the first game and closed out the double header with a 14-4 win.

Along with the Lady Dawgs, two other region 3 teams swept their series to advance to the second round. Metter swept Hawkinsville and will host Taylor Co. and Screven Co. will travel to Crawford Co. after sweeping Wilcox Co.

Game times for the ECI vs Trion series will be posted on the ECI Softball and Emanuel County Institute Facebook pages.