Lady Dawgs’ season begins

The ECI Lady Dawg softball team started their 2024 season last week. As usual the Dawgs begin the season playing up in class with larger schools to ready themselves for a tough region and playoff battles. They started off the season hosting Toombs Co. The Bulldogs from Lyons avenged their loss to ECI with a 16-7 win over ECI. The two teams ended the first inning tied 2-2 with ECI taking a 5-2 lead in the second inning. Toombs Co. started to find their mark scoring 10 runs over the next three innings to take a commanding 12-6 lead after five innings. Toombs finished off the Lady Dawgs putting four more on the board in the top of the seventh to spoil ECI’s home and season opener. Dot Russell led the Dawgs at the plate and in the power department with three hits including two solo shot homeruns. Jayna Kearson was right behind, ending the day with two hits. Mary Katherine Durden began the game pitching the first four innings giving up seven hits and two strikeouts. Charley Mitchell closed the final three innings allowing five hits. The Lady Dawgs closed out the first week of the season in Jesup, playing in the Wayne Co. Diamond Days Tournament. The Dawgs picked up their first win of the season, defeating 5A Thomas Co. Central 11-3 to run rule the Yellow Jackets in five innings. ECI used small ball to score six runs in the first inning and five more in the second to take an early 11-1 lead. The Yellow Jackets tacked on two more in the fourth to make the final score 11-3 Bulldogs. Durden had multiple hits with two while seven other Bulldogs picked up a hit each. It was Durden and Mitchell again toeing the rubber, scattering 7 hits to TCC.

ECI played their second game of the tournament against the host team Wayne Co. The Lady Dawgs lost a close one to Wayne 4-2. Trailing 4-0 after four innings, ECI scored a run in the fifth and seventh innings to close out the week. Abbey Marsh had two hits in the game to lead the Dawgs at the plate with four other ECI batters ending the game with one hit each. Mary Katherine Durden toed the rubber for the game giving up 10 hits, just two walks, striking out three Yellow Jacket batters.

ECI had a scheduled game against Vidalia that was postponed when Debby decided to pass through. Weather and field conditions permitting, they have a game on the road Thursday against Statesboro. The Dawgs return home on August 13, to play an early region game against Claxton, then travel to Metter on August 15, to take on the Tigers from Metter.

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