The Shadow
HOT SPRINGS — Tony Taylor has made some defensive changes in his Covington softball infield.
The shake-up is starting to pay off.
The left side of the Cougar infield — shortstop Kim Via and third baseman Ariel Barber — handled nine chances without an error, and Isabella Schooler scattered seven hits in the circle here Tuesday in a 13-3 Pioneer District win over Bath County.
Taylor’s squad made three errors, but only one after the first inning.
“Defensively, I’ve got a couple of kids I’m trying at new positions,” Taylor said. “It seems to be working out so far. All in all, we played pretty well.”
Kayana Alfred led an 11-hit offensive attack for the winners with three.
Via, Autumn Bostic and Christen Holloway had two knocks apiece and both Midajah Heighter and Barber had one.
Bostic, Heighter and Barber knocked in two runs each. Holloway scored three times and Reese Myers, Alfred and Heighter crossed the plate twice.
Via and Alfred had back-to-back RBI hits to break a 2-all tie in the top of the second.
A frame later, Heighter’s RBI ground ball and a two-run single from Barber, put the Cougars in the drivers seat.
Schooler pitched the win for Covington.
Schooler struck out seven and walked five.
“Isabella pitched her butt off,” Taylor said. “She did a good job pitching out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth.”
Selena Wolfe had a big night at the plate for the Chargers.
Wolfe, hitting in the eight-hole, went 3-for-4, including a long double that short hopped the left field fence.
Hannah Pritt added two hits, while Gabbi Reed and Chaya Offer had one apiece.
Bath had base runners in every inning, but left 12 stranded.
Offer’s double sparked a two-run home half of the first for Bath County and Pritt plated Reed with an RBI single through the middle in the sixth.
Wolfe struck out 13 Cougars in the circle, while walking nine.
“We’ve still got a couple (girls) who are rising up, who are working hard — they’re still a little shy in the (batter’s) box,” said BCHS coach Carrie Pierce.
“We’ve got to work on not so many pop ups. We hit the ball, but right to the players.
“Selena pitched a heck of a good game and she had some great hits and Hannah had an RBI,” she added. “I look forward to playing them again. Hopefully, we will be a little more aggressive in the box. That’s what I’m looking for.”
The Chargers (0-3 Pioneer District, 1-8) host Narrows on Tuesday.
Wednesday’s Game
Schooler turned around and tossed a two-hit shutout on Wednesday at the Jackson River Sport Complex in the Cougars’ 7-0 non-district win over Roanoke Catholic.
The left-hander struck out four and walked two.
“Isabella had another good game,” said Taylor.
Covington banged out 13 hits.
Myers was 3-for-4 and scored a couple of runs, while Via, Alfred, Bostic and Barber had two each. Tacy and Holloway added one apiece.
Alfred drove in four runs, Via knocked in two and Barber scored twice.
“We hit the ball pretty well and hit the ball well with runners in scoring position,” Taylor said. “We’re starting to see the ball better at the plate.”
The Cougars (1-1 Pioneer District, 3-6 overall) host Narrows on Wednesday.
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Bath County catcher Isabella Ryder tags out Covington’s Kayana Alfred in the fourth inning Tuesday in Hot Springs. (Gavin Dressler Photo)
