ROANOKE, VA – The Roanoke Catholic Celtics were cruising towards sending the Covington Cougars (1-3) back home with their fourth straight loss to open the season, but a four-error sixth inning by the Celtics defense led to a seven-run seventh inning that lifted the Cougars to their first win of the season.
Prior to the sixth inning, Preston Clark was tossing a no-hitter for the Celtics. The Celtics also had a sizable 4-0 lead.
And then things started to unravel.
After getting Hayden Rodgers (1-for-3) to pop out, Caleb Deeds committed a fielding error on a ground ball for the Celtics, which allowed Ethan Martin (0-for-3) to reach first base. This was then followed by the Cougars first hit of the game coming off of the bat of Luke Conner (2-for-4), which put two runners on base. However, Clark settled down with the next batter and struck out Tanner Hoke (0-for-2) for out number two.
Looking to get out of the inning without giving up a run, with runners in scoring position on second and third base, Clark threw a wild pitch, allowing Martin to score the Cougars first run of the game. On the next pitch during the same at bat with Eli Dressler (0-for-2), Dressler would reach first base on the Celtics second error of the inning which also brought in Conner to score. The Celtics lead was now down to just two runs.
Now down just two runs, but still looking at two outs, the Cougars continued with their two-out rally with more help from the Celtics defense as they committed their third fielding error of the inning resulting in Landon Arritt (W/0-for-4) reaching first base. With the tying runs on base, Cook hit a game-tying two-run single on a line drive to right field which plated both Dressler and Arritt.
Clark would hit the next batter he faced, Rocklynn Phillips (0-for-0), which would end his day on the mound. As Avery Wheeler came in relief of Clark, the defense once again would falter as Clark who moved over to second base committed a fielding error which resulted in Cook scoring the go-ahead run to give the Cougars their first lead of the game at 5-4.
The Cougars would add two more runs from the bat of Rodgers who singled home both Phillips and Garrett Carper (0-for-2). Carper reached first on the Clark error. The Cougars took a 7-4 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh inning and down to their final at bats, the Celtics started a one-out rally around a Cougars fielding error. This led to a single by AJ Johnson who brought home Clark who had reached base on the Cougars fielding error. Arritt on the mound would settle down and would get the next two batters out to end the game and the Celtics potential rally.
Cook and Rodgers led the Cougars with two RBI’s in the win. Cook, who started for the team on the mound, pitched four innings where he gave up four runs (three earned) on four hits, while walking two and striking out seven. Arritt picked up the win for the team in relief of Cook as he went 2.2 innings and allowed one run (unearned) on one hit, while walking three, and striking out three.
Johnson and Aries Oliver (0-for-2) each had two RBI’s for the Celtics.
The Cougars are off until this coming Tuesday when they begin Pioneer District play on the road against Craig County at 5:00 p.m.
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
CHS 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 7 4 4
RCHS 2 0 2 0 0 0 1 5 5 4
Cougars Box Score
Player AB R H RBI BB SO
Rodgers, CF 3 0 1 2 0 1
Martin, 3B 3 1 0 0 1 2
Conner, C 4 1 2 0 0 1
N. Phillips, DH 2 0 0 0 0 2
Hoke, LF 2 0 0 0 0 2
Crowder, 1B 1 0 0 0 0 0
Dressler, 1B 2 1 0 0 0 1
Arritt, LF/P 4 1 0 0 0 1
Cook, P/RF 3 1 1 2 0 1
Davis, 2B 2 0 0 0 0 2
R. Phillips, RF 0 1 0 0 0 0
Crawford, SS 1 0 0 0 0 1
Carper, SS 2 1 0 0 0 1
———————————————————
TEAM 29 7 4 4 1 15
PITCHING
Player IP H R ER BB SO
Cook 4 4 4 3 2 7
Arritt (W) 3 1 1 0 3 3
——————————————————–
TEAM 7 5 5 3 5 10
Celtics Box Score
Player AB R H RBI BB SO
Clark, P 3 3 1 0 1 1
Johnson, SS 3 1 2 2 1 1
Oliver, CF 2 0 0 2 1 2
Baker, 1B 3 0 1 0 0 1
Wheeler, 2B/P 3 0 0 0 0 1
Deeds, 3B 3 0 0 0 0 2
Douglas, C 2 0 0 0 1 1
Hunt, RF 3 0 1 0 0 0
Spencer, LF 2 1 0 0 1 1
———————————————————-
TEAM 24 5 5 4 5 10
PITCHING
Player IP H R ER BB SO
Clark (L) 5.2 2 6 0 1 12
Wheeler 1.1 2 1 0 0 3
——————————————————–
TEAM 7 4 7 0 1 15
