East Coweta's Jaliyah Holmes K's 13, Needs Three For 500 Career Strikeouts

East Coweta Indians Pitcher Jaliyah Holmes Closing In On 500 Strikeouts Milestone

The defending Georgia High School Association Class 7A softball state champs, the East Coweta Indians we in action Friday as they hosted both Ola and Parkview in triple header action. Despite graduating 10 players from last year’s state title game, the Indians picked up where they left off, defeating Jackson in their season opener on Wednesday and opened up on Friday with a 7-2 win over Ola. The Indians’ bats were hot early on as they picked up three runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 3-0 lead. Later in the bottom of the third inning, a two run homerun by Karlie Guiterrez would put the Indians up 5-0. Pitcher Jaliyah Holmes would drive in another run in the bottom of the fourth and another run would come in on an era by the Mustangs and the Indians would go up 7-0.

As for Holmes, she came into the day needing 16 strikeouts to reach 500 for her high school career and she was nothing but solid on the mound as she would strikeout 13 through six innings allowing no runs and only one hit. Speaking with East Coweta head coach, Frank DeLoach following the win over Ola, he noted that despite picking up the victory, he and his staff still need to make sure they help and allow the girls to grow into their new roles. “They have to get mentally stronger,” DeLaoch said, adding that he has to remind them that teams will be out to get them night after night. “When teams play us, they’re out to get us. We have a big target on us and people would love to take us down,” said DeLoach.

As for Holmes’ performance on the mound, DeLoach praised the senior pitcher, noting that she was throwing a perfect game up until she gave up a single in the top of the sixth inning which led to he and his staff to move to take her out and preserve her arm. “She’s had a special career, she’s a special athlete for us and she looked good today,” Deloach said of Holmes.