Covington Cougars senior, Levi Dressler (W, 2-for-4) continued to slug past the Bath County Chargers pitching staff after his five RBI performance in the Cougars 19-9 victory on Monday in the Pioneer District Varsity Baseball Tournament.
The Chargers struggled to slow down Dressler in the three games they played the Cougars this season, all won by the Cougars. Dressler, in his three games against the Chargers this season, 4-for-9 with nine RBI’s.
While Dressler had his share of big performances against the Chargers, fellow seniors, Brady Howard (3-for-3) and Ashton Cook (2-for-4), also slugged past the Chargers all season long.
In the teams win on Monday, Cook, put up a four RBI performance, while Howard added a three RBI day. The three seniors combined for 12 of the teams 16 RBI’s.
Cook, much like Dressler, finished 4-for-9 with nine RBI’s against the Chargers this season, while Howard, had the most hits against them going 6-for-9 with eight RBI’s.
While the three seniors counted for 12 of the teams 16 RBI’s, the Cougars had four other players each with an RBI in the teams victory over the Chargers on Monday. Meanwhile, Hayden Rodgers (3-for-4) and Ethan Martin (3-for-4), each put together three-hit performances for the Cougars, while both also had an RBI each.
Dressler, picked up the victory after getting the start on the mound for the Cougars. Dressler, surrendered two runs (both earned) on one hit while striking out one and walking two in two innings.
The Chargers were led by Cam Lowery (2-for-4) and Matt Keyser (0-for-3) led the Chargers with three RBI’s. Isaace Ingram (L, 2-for-4), despite a two-hit performance with two runs scored, suffered the loss for the Chargers. Ingram, gave up six runs (four earned) on seven hits while walking and striking out two in just 2.1 innings.
In the first inning, the Cougars struck with four runs thanks to RBI’s from Cook, Howard and Luke Conner (0-for-3). The other run scored came in resulting from an error.
Already ahead by four runs, the Cougars would add two more in the second inning following an RBI double from Dressler and Howard’s second RBI coming on an RBI single.
The Chargers despite putting up nine runs which normally would be enough to pick up a victory, had their best chance to rally in the third inning. Trailing 6-0, the Chargers started lineup started to get to Dressler by forcing two walks, collecting a single, and scoring two runs. After just two innings, the Chargers forced Dressler out of the game with the bases loaded and no outs. However, despite adding one more run in the inning, the Chargers would be unable to get the big inning they hoped for and settled for three runs which cut their deficit in half at 6-3. Credit, Dylan Williams (S) who came in relief of Dressler in the second inning and recorded three outs including back to back outs with the bases loaded.
In the fourth inning, the Chargers would close the gap to two runs following an RBI from Keyser. The Chargers who once trailed 6-0, now only trailed 6-4.
As momentum kept carrying towards the Chargers, the tide shifted in the home half of the fourth inning as the Cougars busted the game open with an eight-run inning to take a 14-4 lead.
The inning was highlighted by a bases clearing three-run double from Cook that put the Cougars ahead 13-4. The Cougars had five players with RBI’s in the inning.
With a 10-run lead, the Cougars were now three outs away from the victory, however, the Chargers once again would not go away and as the team collected five runs in the top of the fifth inning which cut the lead down to five runs at 14-9. In the innings, Ca. Lowery, had a two-run single which brought the Chargers within five runs.
As quickly as the Chargers were back in the game, the Cougars offense roared right back and closed the game with a five-run home half of the fifth inning. Dressler, had a bases clearing three-run double that setup Martin’s sacrifice fly which scored Dressler from third to end the game and advance the Cougars to districts next round.
The Cougars will now travel to Parry McCluer this evening to play the Fighting Blues in the district semifinals.
The Fighting Blues were 2-0 against the Cougars in the regular season. On April 26th the Cougars lost at home to the Fighting Blues 2-0 and in the Cougars next game, they lost on the road to the Fighting Blues on May 2nd 10-0.
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
BHS 0 0 3 1 5 x x 9 8 4
CHS 4 2 0 8 5 x x 19 13 3
Chargers Batting
Batter AB H RBI R W SO
Ingram 4 2 0 2 0 0
Co Lowery 2 2 1 3 1 0
Gardziesic 2 1 0 1 2 0
Keyser 3 0 3 1 1 0
Ca Lowery 4 2 3 0 0 0
Tucker 3 0 0 0 0 0
Wilson 1 1 1 1 1 0
Persinger 2 0 0 1 1 1
Ailstock 3 0 1 0 0 0
TOTAL 24 8 9 9 6 1
Cougars Batting
Batter AB H RBI R W SO
Rodgers 4 3 1 3 0 0
Stull 0 0 1 0 0 0
Cook 4 2 4 3 1 0
L Dressler 4 2 5 3 1 0
Martin 4 3 2 1 0 0
Howard 3 3 3 2 1 0
Conner 3 0 1 0 0 0
Bostic 0 0 0 0 2 0
Rogers 0 0 0 0 1 0
E Dressler 0 0 0 2 1 0
Staunton 2 0 0 2 1 1
Hoke 3 0 0 2 1 1
TOTAL 27 13 16 19 9 2
Chargers Pitching
Pitcher IP H R ER BB S0
Ingram (L) 2.1 7 6 4 2 2
Co Lowery 1 2 5 5 3 0
Keyser 1 4 8 6 4 0
Tucker 0.1 0 0 0 0 0
TOTAL 4.2 13 19 15 9 2
Cougars Pitching
Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO
Dressler (W) 2 1 2 2 2 1
Williams (S) 3 7 7 6 4 0
TOTAL 5 8 9 8 6 1
