The Shadow
COVINGTON – What seemed like a bleak end to the first half of the regular season a week ago, Covington turned things around in their final game before the Valley Baseball League All-Star Game with a 14-1 victory over Staunton. That momentum continued over to this past Tuesday following the ASG where the Lumberjacks rallied from an eight-run deficit to defeat the Braves 9-8 at Casey Field.
Staunton was cruising past Covington through the first 3 1/2 innings as the team built an 8-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, which included a four-run second that was headlined by a two-run single from Tim Dickinson (1-for-4).
The Lumberjacks in the bottom of the fourth started to gain some steam as they pushed a pair of runs across home plate on a two-run double from Nick Paszt (2-for-5) who was making his return to the lineup after missing the previous five games.
Following a scoreless fifth inning, Covington was back on the attack as the team scored three runs to pull within three runs at 8-5. Paszt, Quentin Jenkins (1-for-4), and Thomas Marsala (1-for-4), each had RBIs in the inning.
With Staunton’s bats cooling off, the momentum kept swinging the Lumberjacks’ way as the Jacks’ in the eighth inning would add three more runs to tie the game at 8-8. With two outs in the inning and the bases loaded, Gregory Melo (2-for-5) tied the game on one swing as he crushed a bases-clearing double as all three runners scored.
In the bottom of the 10th inning, cue the fireworks. With the bases loaded and no outs, Spencer Williams (1-for-5) with his only hit of the game, hit a hard walk-off single to left-field as he lifted Covington up from an improbable victory.
Melo and Paszt led the Lumberjacks with three RBIs each.
Jorge A. Garcia III (W/2-1) picked up the win for the Jacks’ after tossing a scoreless 10th inning out of the bullpen. Carlos Escobosa (ND) started on the mound for the Jacks’. Escobosa gave up five runs (four earned) on three hits in just one inning. Matthew Someillan allowed a pair of runs in two innings out of the bullpen, while right-handed pitcher Colby Phillips held the fort down for the Jacks’ as he allowed just one run in six innings. Phillps struck out six as well.
The eight-run comeback was the largest rally of the season for Covington. The Lumberjacks improved to 4-2 against Staunton this season and have two more games against them to go.
Staunton 2 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 8 7 4
Covington 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 3 0 1 – 9 10 3
W – Jorge A. Garcia III. L – Trey Jackson.
