by RON WEATHERFORD
The ECI softball team played their last regular season game Monday against Jenkins Co., defeating the Eagles 5-0 recording their eleventh shutout of the year.
After losing to region leader Bryan Co. 1-0 a couple weeks ago the Lady Dawgs have been on a roll.
They defeated Portal 10-2, won a close game against Screven Co. 5-4, and routed Claxton 17-0. They slipped by SE Bulloch 2-1, won against Metter 10-1 and Jenkins Co 5-0. Stats are not available for any of the games.
Bryan Co. is currently 11-1 in region after a loss to Metter. The Indians still have 2 more region games this week against Portal and Screven, both capable of upsetting Bryan.
ECI is 11-2 in region and the second seed losing both region games to Bryan Co. The Bulldogs could jump to first place and number one seed if Bryan were to lose both games this week. If both teams end with an 11-2 region record, the Indians will win the head to head tie breaker and first place in region.
All four region 3 teams will play region 2 in the first round of the state playoffs. Lanier Co. will be the number one seed in that region. Currently Charlton is two seed while Brooks is number three.
Charlton is 10-2 in region and Brooks is 9-3. Brooks still has 2 region games left this week, one with Charlton Co. The number 2 and 3 seeds are not yet determined.
If ECI ends the season as the number 2 seed, they will host either Charlton or Brooks Co. depending on the outcome of those games this week. The number 1 seed, either Bryan or ECI will host the number 4 seed, either Atkinson or Clinch, both of which still have region games this week.
But either way the Lady Dawgs will play the first round of the state playoffs at home Monday, October 19.
Check the Emanuel County Institute or ECI Bulldog Football Facebook pages for opponent and game times later in the week.
