SEASON PREVIEW:
There are high expectations for the 2024 baseball season as the Covington Buccaneers return a boat-load of talent from a year ago. Last season the Buccs finished with a 9-13 overall record and 6-7 in the TRC, but showed promise throughout stages of the season.

“The baseball program numbers have greatly increased from last year,” said Covington coach Andy Johnson. “We are up to twenty-three players and we will split twelve varsity and eleven JV players to start the season. Bringing in eleven freshmen speaks well for the future of the program.”

Covington only lost one player to graduation and one more to a transfer, but the talent and experience returning to the varsity roster consists of six seniors and five juniors – all who contributed to successful stretches last season where the Buccs won six of eight games and them three of four games – one of the huge wins taking place in the post-season tournament.

“Last year’s team finished 9-13 and came up one run short against the eventual district champion (Bradford),” continued Johnson. “This year we return ten letter winners, eight starters on defense, six seniors, and our entire pitching staff.

The six seniors for Covington are Michael Hagan, Jacob Tipps, Grant Blore, Connor Humphrey, Carter Owens and Carson Taylor. Each one of those players have been huge contributors to the program throughout their high school careers and are looking to take the program to another level in their senior seasons.

The five juniors on the roster are Tyler Jay, Tanner Palsgrove, Kian French, Garrett Leistner and Ashton Skaggs – a group of guys who have followed the leadership of the class ahead of them.

The final Buccaneer on the varsity roster is freshman Brairen Denson. A freshman being able to make a talented varsity team like this group of Buccaneers is extremely impressive, which hopefully leads to a very successful high school career for this young man.

“We are adding freshman Brairen Denson to the mix and we’re looking for him to be a big part of our team,” Johnson said. “He is a very talent player and he is going to make us better in multiple ways.”

The way the talented roster is for Covington, there will be flexibility as who will play at certain positions depending on how is on the hill.

“The infielders will adjust based on who is pitching, but will consist of Tanner Palsgrove (2nd Team TRC) at third, Tyler Jay and Brairen Denson at short, Carson Taylor and Denson at second, and Jacob Tipps and Kian French switching in and out at first base,” Johnson explained. “Michael Hagan and French will handle the catching duties this year. Tyler Jay will rotate into the outfield depending on who pitching.  His athleticism adds to the depth of our outfield. Our outfield includes Carter Owens (2nd Team TRC), Connor Humphrey, Ashton Skaggs, and Garrett Leistner.”

All of Covington’s pitchers are back from a year ago, plus the addition of a freshman.

“The pitching staff will be led by starters Tyler Jay, Ashton Skaggs (1st Team TRC), and Brairen Denson,” continued Johnson. “The bullpen will have a variety of arms including Jacob Tipps, Carson Taylor, Grant Blore, Tanner Palsgrove, and Garrett Leistner.”

There is also great leadership from players who put in aplenty of time throughout the off-season.

“Jacob Tipps and Tyler Jay have stepped up to be the vocal leaders of the infield,” Johnson said. “They set the standard for our players to follow. They have put in more time during the offseason than anyone else on the team. Carter Owens is the true captain of the outfield. He leads by example, and the younger guys follow him. We’ve had some amazing centerfielders in the past, and I’d put him up there with any of them. These three guys see the potential this team has. They want to leave their mark on the program, and lead them to something special.”

With the talent and experience on this roster, the Covington Buccaneers have aspirations of challenging for a league championship and a deep run in the post-season tournament.

“Bethel and Miami East are expected to be the front runners of the league, with Lehman being a dark horse leader too,” describe Johnson of the TRC. “The guys on this team feel that we should be right there with them. They expect to compete for the league title, and they’ve been putting in the time and effort to make that a reality.”