The Shadow
For the second straight game, Covington’s baseball team played a 13-3 game.
Friday’s result was much more pleasing to the Cougars.
Simon Gibson and Sammy Akers slammed three hits each at Casey Field, leading the Cougars to a six-inning, run-rule win over William Fleming.
Covington, who lost 13-3 at Alleghany on Monday, broke a 2-2 tie with two runs in the home half of the fourth.
They added four more in the fifth and a five-spot in the bottom of the sixth left the Colonels standing.
“Real happy with the way we swung the bat,” said CHS coach Kevin Hall. “Simon had a big night — 3-for-4 — and I believe Sammy had three also.
That’s pretty good from guys hitting in the middle to latter part of your line-up. They hit the ball like that and it really helps you out.”
The left-handed swinging Gibson hit it to all parts of Casey Field.
He had an RBI ?single through the middle in the second, an RBI?single to right in the fifth and ended the game with a RBI rocket over the left-fielder’s head in the bottom of the sixth.
Akers, also a lefty, added a bloop double to start the fourth-inning rally, a two-run hit to right in the fifth and a bunt single in the sixth.
Skyler Barnett had two hits for the winners, while Jaun Miller, Chandler Cook, Levi Dressler and Issac Craft completed the 12-hit attack with one apiece.
Dallan Givens started on the mound for Covington and didn’t allow an earned run in three innings.
Barnett got credit for the win in relief, pitching the back three innings.
“Dallan missed all of last year with an injury he got early in the season — a broken wrist,” said Hall. “He came back for his senior year and he gave us three pretty strong innings.”
An error led to a Fleming run off Givens in the third, but he pitched his way out of a jam to end the frame.
“He really stepped up when he was in trouble,” Hall added. “We were really close to pulling him, but we decided to stick with him and he came up big.”
Cam Munford, Hunter Huddleston, Matt Eaton, Justin Craig and Elijah Lynch all had one hit apiece for William Fleming.
The Colonels used four different pitchers with Jesse Hartsel taking the loss, giving up four runs in two and two thirds of an inning.
Fleming dropped to 0-4 on the season with the loss.
Covington, now 1-1 on the season, gears up for a rematch with Alleghany on Monday at Casey Field.
“That first win is always a good one,” Hall finished. “It’s a good tune up to get ready for Monday. Alleghany played a good game against us last time.
We’ll try and give them a good game on Monday.”
