The Shadow
COVINGTON, Va. (VR) – The Covington Lumberjacks may have taken a 13-1 loss on Monday night, but box scores can’t measure heart—and Covington showed plenty of it. In a game filled with learning opportunities, the Lumberjacks continued to grow as a team and showed flashes of the potential they’re building with every inning.
Leading the charge was Jairo Gonzalez, who turned in a strong performance at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a pair of stolen bases. Gonzalez brought a spark to the offense and later came around to score Covington’s lone run in the fourth inning, driven in by a clutch RBI single from Eduardo Melendez. Melendez, one of the team’s most consistent hitters this season, bumped his average up to .294 with the hit.
The Lumberjacks collected five hits on the night and showed discipline at the plate, drawing three walks against a tough Express pitching staff. Victor Lopez reached base and called a solid game from behind the plate, while Diego Suarezadded another hit to his season total, now batting .267.
On the mound, Jairo Bello got the start, but the Express jumped out early, scoring four runs in the top of the first. Covington’s bullpen—Scott Griffeth, Matthew Calvert, and Noah Lowery—came in to eat innings and gain valuable experience. Griffeth held his own across 3.1 innings, allowing no earned runs, while Calvert and Lowery faced the heart of a red-hot Express order.
Despite the score, the Lumberjacks kept grinding, showing resilience even as the Express continued to tack on runs in the middle and late innings. Errors in the field—five in total—opened the door for additional scoring, but the team never lost its energy or focus. These growing pains are part of the early-season grind, and Covington continues to build toward sharper, more complete games.
The Express were led by Landon Beaver, who went 3-for-5 with four RBIs and a home run, as well as Topher Jones, who notched three hits and an RBI. But Covington’s pitchers did manage five strikeouts and forced the Express to earn every base.
Now 1-6 on the season, the Lumberjacks are still very much in the hunt for momentum. With developing talent, standout leadership from players like Gonzalez and Melendez, and a community that shows up win or lose, this team is laying a foundation for stronger games ahead.
