The Shadow
ROANOKE, Va. (VR) – The Covington Middle School Cougars roared to victory Tuesday evening, delivering a commanding 15-4 win over John Fishwick Middle School in just three innings of action-packed softball. With dominant pitching, a barrage of hits, and sky-high energy, the Cougars made a clear statement: they came to play, and they came to win.
The momentum started right from the top of the first inning when Lydia Herstine stepped into the circle and struck out three batters in a row, firing up the Cougar bench and the home crowd. That set the tone for what became a showcase of total team dominance.
Offensively, the Cougars were on fire. Elizabeth Bazzrea led the charge with two hits, while Rogers, Skidmore, Unroe, Herstine, and Vest each added a hit, lighting up the scoreboard inning after inning. Smart base running and aggressive swings kept John Fishwick’s defense on their heels, as Covington piled on the runs with confidence and cohesion.
In the second and third innings, Bazzrea took the mound, striking out three batters while working through some tight spots, allowing four walks but keeping the Cougars firmly in control. Even when the bases were loaded, the Covington defense held strong and refused to let the game slip away.
By the bottom of the third, the Cougars had scored 15 runs, triggering the early finish with the run rule — and celebrating a dominant team win.
