The Shadow
After dropping a 17-7 decision to Alleghany to start the season, the Covington baseball team has righted the ship with their second straight win – a 9-7 decision over Greenbrier West – Wednesday at Casey Field.
Chad Lipes started on the mound for the Cougars and pitched two and two-thirds innings before giving way to Cody Pritt in the third inning.
Lipes allowed three runs on three hits, while striking out four and walking three.
Pritt picked up the win in relief, allowing three runs on four hits in an inning of work.
Covington jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Preston Waddell singled, stole second and third and scored on Chris Bowden’s RBI fielder’s choice.
West answered back with three runs in the top of the third.
Aaron Moore and Chase Fitzwater put together back-to-back one-out singles before Lipes walked Ryan Kansem to load the bases.
After cutting down Moore at home on Mike Coughlin’s fielder’s choice, Lipes issued consecutive bases-loaded walks to bring in two runs and then Pritt walked the first batter he faced before getting out of the inning with a punchout.
The Cougars responded to West’s three runs with seven runs of their own in the home half of the inning.
Pritt and Michael Myers drew walks to lead off the inning and Adam Simmons followed with an RBI single to bring the Cougars to within one (3-2).
West elected to bring in Fitzwater on the mound and the lefty struck out the first batter he faced before iussing two straight walks to load the bags.
Fitzwater struck out his second batter of the inning before Chris Bowden slapped an RBI infield single. Another run scored after Shawn Perkins reached on a two-out error.
Pritt drew an RBI walk and Myers followed with a two-RBI single to put the Cougars on top for good, 8-3.
Pritt struck out the first batter he faced in the fourth before walking nine-hole hitter Moore. He got Fitzwater to groundout to second before running into a little trouble.
Kansem ripped an RBI single and Coughlin followed with a double to put two runners in scoring position. Cameron McQuain plated both with a two-RBI single to bring cut the Cavaliers’ deficit to two (8-6).
Covington extended its lead to 9-6 with a single run in the home half of the fifth.
Derek Harris drew a lead off walk and Lipes came on to pinch run. Lipes stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch before scoring on Myers’ RBI single.
Tanner Paxton, who pitched two innings of one-hit ball in relief of Pritt, ran into a little trouble in the sixth following two Cougar errors.
Cougar coach Mick Strand elected to bring in Matthew Myers to close things out after the Cavaliers cut the Cougars’ lead to two (9-7).
Myers got out of the inning with a groundout. He gave up a leadoff single in the top of the seventh before striking out the next three batters to preserve the Covington win and pick up his first save of the year.
Michael Myers led the Cougars at the plate with a 2-for-3, three RBI day. Simmons, Waddell, Bowden and Matthew Myers had one hit each.
Fitzwater, Callison and Moore led Greenbrier West with two hits each.
McQuain was charged with the loss on the mound after allowing four runs on two hits over two innings pitched.
Covington (2-1) will be back in action Saturday at the Michael’s Pizza Border Bash Baseball Tournament at Casey Field. Covington plays Pocahontas, W.Va. in the 10 a.m. first semifinal.
Bath County will take on Richwood, W.Va. at 12:30 p.m. with the consolation game slated for 2:30 p.m. and the championship set for 4:30 p.m.
