COVINGTON – The Covington Buccaneers trailed 5-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, but were able to score three impressive runs for a walk-off 6-5 victory over Jackson Center.
The final outcome of this game had the most emotional impact for senior Caleb Smith, who was honored on “Senior Night” in the final home game of the regular season. Fortunately the Buccaneers will be able to play at least one more home game in the post-season.
Things didn’t start off well for the Buccaneers throughout the first half of the game as Jackson Center built a 4-0 lead. Throughout that time the Buccaneers hit the ball well, but left so many runners on base without scoring runs.
Still trailing 4-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, the Buccaneers were finally able to score two runs after a critical hit by Brairen Denson that put Finn Rogers and Tyler Palsgrove across the plate.
The Buccaneers then loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning to put themselves into an ideal situation. Unfortunately, the Buccaneers were only able to put one runner across the plate when Gunner Uderman was hit by a pitch. A strikeout and a fly ball that was caught by Jackson Center left the bases loaded and held the Buccaneers to a 4-3 deficit.
Jackson Center was able to score another run in the top of the seventh inning to push its lead to 5-3 with the Buccaneers returning to the plate with just three outs left.
Covington followed up with an impressive comeback win by executing near perfect. Talon Pergram and Hunter McMillion got on bases and then Christian Skaggs drilled a powerful hit that drove in both runners and put himself on third base. With senior Caleb Smith at the plate, he let the first pitch go by and Skaggs stoled home when the catcher was tossing the ball back to the pitcher. This was a very impressive coaching strategy that sealed the exciting victory.
Caleb Smith pitched very well throughout the entire game. Tonight was his sixth victory of the season.
This is Covington’s seventh straight win as the team improves its record to 12-9 with three more regular season games left. Next is a contest against Northwestern at Wright State University this Friday at 7:00pm.
