The Shadow
The Covington softball team opened Pioneer District play Tuesday and sit atop the district standings after knocking off Highland County 6-1, 11-5.
Shanna Woodward improved her mound record to 6-2 on the season after picking up both wins in the circle. Woodward allowed one hit in the opener, striking out nine and walking just one batter.
Neither team could get any offensive momentum going in the first game as hits were sporadic, but it was Covington who would strike first.
Hollie Fisher and Kristina Huffman got the Lady Cougars going in the bottom of the third with back-to-back singles.
Kelsey Newcomer drew a walk to load the bags and Autumn Phillips plated Fisher with an RBI groundout.
Whitney Crawford followed with an RBI groundout and Logan Sizemore slapped a run-scoring single. Ashleigh Brie followed with an RBI double to give Covington a 4-0 lead after three innings.
The Rams got one back in the top of the fourth to cut their deficit to one, but Covington responded with a little two-out damage in the home half of the fourth.
Newcomer reached base on an error and Phillips backed her with a run-scoring double. Phillips stole third and scored on a passed ball to give the Lady Cougars a 6-1 lead.
Woodward retired the first two batters she faced in the fifth via stikeout and got a groundout to end the inning and the game.
In the nightcap, Highland jumped on top with two runs in the bottom of the first.
The Rams led 2-0 until the Cougars broke things open with a six-run third inning.
Fisher drew a walk to lead off the inning and Newcomer reached on a bunt single to put two runners aboard with one out. Phillips singled to load the bags and Crawford followed with a two-run double.
Logan Sizemore followed with an RBI double of her own and Candon Bates slapped an RBI single in the inning. Bates would score later in the inning on a Rams error to complete the six-run rally.
The Rams cut their deficit to one (6-5) with three runs in the bottom of the fourth, but the Lady Cougars put it away with a five-run fifth.
Brie, Bates and Larissa Moore opened the inning with three consecutive singles to load the bases. Mary Woodson followed with a two-run double and Huffman followed with an RBI single. Phillips ripped an RBI single later in the inning to plate Huffman and give the Cougars an 11-5 edge.
The Rams put two runners aboard in the bottom half of the inning, but Moore made a nice play in right field to end the game and put the Lady Cougars atop the district after completing the sweep of the Rams.
Woodward gave up five runs on six hits in game two, she struck out seven and walked seven.
“I think it took us a little while to get used to the pitching,” said CHS coach Leigh Ann Woodward. “Once the girls got their timing down, we ripped the cover off the softball. They (Highland) are a team that is steadily improving. I just hope they can keep their numbers up and continue to compete.”
Covington (6-2, 2-0) will be back in action next Monday at Parry McCluer, a 3-2 loser to Craig County in their district opener Tuesday.
