The ECI Lady Dawg softball team traveled to Columbus last week in defense of their 2024 state championship. They brought home more hardware for their crowded trophy case, just not the one they were seeking. Looking for back to back championships, the Lady Dawgs lost to Lanier Co. Friday in extra innings, 10-7.
The Lady Dawgs and the Bulldogs from Lanier Co. are no strangers to each other.
The two teams have faced each other 6 times since 2022 in Columbus. ECI defeated Lanier 7-5 last season. They lost to Lanier in 2022 only to come back out of the loser’s bracket to beat Lanier twice to win the 2022 state championship.
“Every year you run into great pitching in Columbus,” commented softball coach Frank Wimberly. “We struggled to lay off the rise ball Friday night against Lanier. And the next morning’s elimination game against Taylor was going to be another elite pitching match-up. Our coaches simplified our approach at the plate and it paid off. Four innings ands five runs later we ran Taylor’s all-state pitchers off the mound.”
The Lady Dawgs began their defense last week with an opening game against Baconton Charter. They easily took care of the Blazers from Baconton GA 11-0.
The Lady Dawgs faced Irwin Co. in the second game in a pitchers’ duel. The game remained scoreless through 5 innings with neither pitcher giving up a hit.
Charley Mitchell and Senaria Hillman got hits in the sixth and seventh innings to lead the Bulldogs with the only hits during the game.
Scoring one run in the sixth and two in the seventh, ECI won their second game of the tournament against Irwin 3-1.
MK Durden had one of her better games of the season giving up just 2 hits, zero walks with 14 strikeouts.
Up next for the Lady Dawgs was Lanier Co. The Bulldogs from Lanier put the Bulldogs in the losers bracket with a 4-0 win. TT Smith, Charley Mitchell and Lola Walden were the only batters to reach on a hit against Lanier.
Durden went the distance in the circle giving up 8 hits, striking out 8 Lanier batters.
The Lady Dawg met up against Taylor Co. in their next game, sending Taylor back home to Butler, Ga. with a 12-4 loss.
With the game tied 4-4 in the fourth inning, the Lady Dawgs used the long ball to put some distance between them and Taylor.
Dot Russell and Senaria Hillman went back to back with homeruns as the Bulldogs put 4 on the board in the inning to lead 8-4.
ECI added 2 more runs each in the fifth and sixth innings to win the game 12-4.
Leading the Lady Dawgs with hits was Hadleigh Henry with 3 and 4 RBI.
Durden ended the day giving up 7 hits with 7 strikeouts and another game without a walk.
With the win there were only 2 teams left which set up another showdown with Lanier Co.
Lanier scored the first 2 runs in the game in the top of the third to take an early lead.
They added 2 more in the top of the fourth to lead 4-0.
Senaria Hillman’s bat struck again in the bottom of the of the fourth. With Charley Mitchell and Dot Russell on after singles, Hillman cleared the bases with her second homerun of the day to get within one, 4-3.
Lanier put another run on the board in the top of the fifth to lead 5-3.
The Bulldogs took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth. With 5 walks and a double by Charley Mitchell the Bulldogs led 7-5 entering the seventh inning.
Lanier used long ball in the top of the seventh with a one out two run homerun to tie the game 7-7 putting the game into extra innings.
Lanier took back the lead in the top of the eighth on 3 singles and an error to put ECI down 10-7.
The Lady Dawgs got a couple runners in scoring position in the bottom of the inning but could not push a run across, losing the game 10-7.
“It was another battle like the last 4 we’ve played against Lanier in Columbus coming just a swing or two away from forcing the winner take all game,” said coach Wimberly after the game.
Getting their last hits of the season for ECI were Charley Mitchell with 3 hits, Senaria Hillman with one hit, (HR) and 3 RBI.
The Lady Dawgs lose just two seniors from this year’s runner up team and will be missed. Seniors Lola Walden and Dot Russell ended their career for the Bulldogs with one hit each in their last game as a Lady Dawg softball player. They both left their mark with 4 region championships, 2 state championships and one state runner up.
Head softball coach Frank Wimberly had this to say about his 2025 Lady Dawgs Softball Team.
“We graduated 3 all-state players and had 4 brand new starters on the field this season. But older players like Lola, Dot and Mary Katherine really provided a strong foundation that gave these younger players time to grow their roles.”
“I’m just proud of this young team for the way they fight. You see many teams hang their heads and mentally quite long before they are eliminated and our girls just refused to do that. We like to say They’ve Got That Dawg In Them!”
“It’s a testament to the players AND parents buying in to the standards and the culture of the program. Year in and year out, you know what you’re going to get from ECI softball.”
