Wednesday, May 5, 2004

Starr’s Mill’s win over East Coweta ties them for second in region

By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@TheCitizenNews.com

When the Starr’s Mill Panthers posted their dramatic, come-from-behind win over the East Coweta Indians earlier this season, Panther fans could not have imagined the next game between these two teams to be anywhere near as compelling. It was.

Starr’s Mill posted a 2-0 win over the Indians last Friday to tie the two teams for second place in region 4-AAAAA.

The Panthers got both of their runs in the fourth inning, as Andy Kragor and Danny Hartpence both crossed the plate with unearned runs. Andrew Robinson gave up six hits on the night but pitched out of several jams to earn the win. it was the first time all season East Coweta has been shut out.

Starr’s Mill faced Lovejoy Monday afternoon and won 7-1. Blake Nation pitched a complete game for the win. Joey Lewis hit a three-run homer and Andy Myers went 4-for-4 with three doubles to help the Panthers to the win.

Starr’s Mill has finished the regular season schedule and East Coweta will wrap up their season with a home game against the McIntosh Chiefs this afternoon at 5:30 p.m. If the Chiefs win, Starr’s Mill takes complete control of second place in the region. The series sweep over the Indians also gives Starr’s Mill a head-to-head advantage, meaning if the two teams finish the season with the same record, Starr’s Mill will be the second seed from Region 4-AAAAA and will host a first-round state playoff game next Friday.

McIntosh made easy work of the Riverdale Raiders last Friday, winning 16-1 in three innings. Second baseman Joe Pero hit for the cycle, getting the hardest part, the triple, in his last at-bat. He went 4-for4 at the plate and drove in seven runs, two of which came on the walk-off triple. The Chiefs hosted Mundy’s Mill Monday afternoon and won 10-0. Taylor Lee got the win. it was his third no-hitter of the year. Drew Grant, hitting .560 with 39 RBIs for the year, was 2-for-3 in both games, while Jordan Brister drove in five runs in the two wins. Andrew Nonni had a two run homerun against Mundy’s Mill and Brett Boron hit a homerun as well . The Chiefs will close out the season with today’s East Coweta game.

Fayette County’s game against Carver was postponed due to rain and rescheduled for Tuesday afternoon after the paper went to press. They will host Mundy’s Mill to close out the season today at 5:30 p.m. The Tigers should finish the season as the region’s fourth seed and will open the playoffs next week on the road against the top seeded team from Region 1-AAAAA.