by RON WEATHERFORD
The ECI Lady Dawg softball team captured their seventh region title in the last 10 years last week. They are currently 7-0 in region and lead second place by 3 games with just one region game left to play. In those 10 years the Dawgs have been one of the most successful programs in the state in any classification. More about the program that head coach Frank Wimberly has been building at ECI in a later article.
The Bulldogs hosted McIntosh Co. on Tuesday. ECI easily took care of the Buccaneers 12-0.
They scored multiple runs in all innings to run rule McIntosh Co. for the second time this season.
The Lady Dawgs pounded out 10 hits against the Bucs with Jayna Kearson getting the multiple hits with two. Eight other Bulldogs collected one hit each during the 4 innings.
Kayanna Thompson who plays mostly right field for the Lady Dawgs pitched for ECI no hitting the Buccaneers with 8 strikeouts. They only McIntosh player to reach during the game was a walk in the second inning.
Wednesday, they traveled to Montgomery Co. to take on the Eagles. They didn’t stay long in Mt. Vernon, run ruling their second team last week in 4 innings, winning the game 17-4.
After the Bulldogs took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first, the Eagles struck for 3 runs on 4 hits to put ECI down 3-2 after one. The Eagles only managed 2 more hits during the game against Bulldog starting pitcher Sulle Boddiford and the defense behind her. Leading 5-3 after 3 innings the Lady Dawgs sent 15 batters to the plate in the top of the fourth inning, scoring 12 runs to put the game out of reach. Charla Clifton, throwing her first pitch of the week, struck out the side in the bottom of the fourth to preserve the 17-4 win. The Lady Dawgs had another 10 hit game. Jayna Kearson continued her hot streak at the plate with 3 hits. Kelsey Harper ended the game with 2 hits with 5 other Bulldogs collecting one hit each.
The Lady Dawgs have 3 more game left including one region game left with Jenkins Co. left in the season. The first round of the state playoffs begin on October 17.
