The Shadow
CULPEPER – It was a rough Monday evening in Culpeper as the Cavaliers extended Covington’s losing streak to four games following a 12-2 victory in a shortened 8-inning Valley Baseball League game at Culpeper County High School.
Despite the 10-run victory put up by Culpeper, the Cavaliers trailed 2-1 in the fourth inning before scoring five runs in the bottom half of the innings, followed by a pair more in the fifth inning to take a commanding 8-2 lead.
Jon Howard (4-for-5) put on a show for the home crowd as he crushed a pair of home runs in the win. Howard had four hits in five plate appearances and drove in a pair of runs, while also scoring four.
Howard’s teammate, Reed Johnson (2-for-3) also circled the bases with a home run as well. Johnson’s home run came during a tie ball game in the bottom of the fourth inning. With the Cavs’ retaking a lead at 3-2, Johnson crushed a first pitch three-run home run to give Culpeper a 6-2 advantage. It was a lead they would not relinquish.
Carlos Escobosa (0-1) made his debut on the mound for the Lumberjacks in a loss. Escobosa gave up eight runs (seven earned) on 11 hits in five innings, while also striking out seven. Escobosa was in command through the first three innings.
The right-handed pitcher from Burlington, IO retired the side in order in the first inning on just 10 pitches. The Iowa native then gave up a leadoff home run to Johnson in the second inning before settling down and pitching a scoreless second and third innings. Then disaster hit in the fourth when Escobosa gave up five runs in the inning.
Covington’s lone lead of the game occurred during the top of the fourth inning. The right-handed swinging Chenar Brown (1-for-2) connected on his third home run of the season, this time belting a two-run homer that put the Jacks’ ahead 2-1.
Brennon Wright (2-for-4) had a solid day at the plate as well for Lumberjacks. The Starkville, MI native had two hits in four plate appearances, while also scoring on the home run by Brown. The rest of the lineup for the Jacks’ outside of Brown and Wright went a combined 0-for-21 with eight strikeouts.
Covington 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 – 2 3 1
Culpeper 0 1 0 5 2 1 0 3 – 12 18 1
W – Brok Eddy. L – Carlos Escobosa
