SIDNEY – Covington put together yet another outstanding performance in a 3-2 win over Lehman Catholic on Saturday to improve to 6-2 overall and 5-1 in the TRC.
Sophomore hurler Ashton Skaggs was phenomenal on the mound as he tossed a four-hitter in going the distance. Skaggs struck out five batters as well.
Lehman scored a run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom first and held Covington scoreless through five innings. The Buccs had a golden opportunity to tie the game in the second, but Carter Owens was gunned down at home trying to score from third.
Covington managed to make some huge defensive plays that prevented the Cavaliers from increasing their lead. In the third, Ashton Skaggs got out of a jam with runners on second and third with one out by recording a strike out and forcing a pop up. Lehman loaded the bases in the fifth, but Skaggs got out of the jam by forcing a ground out to Tyler Jay at short.
The Buccs finally broke through offensively in the top of the sixth. Trey Schmelzer walked and Carter Owens singled. A fielders choice bunt then put Schmelzer at third and Connor Humphrey on first with one out. Grant Blore singled hard to center scoring both Schmelzer and Humphrey to give the Buccs a 2-1 lead.
After holding Lehman in check in the bottom of the sixth, the Buccs scored a huge insurance run in the top of the seventh that was critical to a win. Tanner Palsgrove doubled to score Tyler Jay to make it 3-1.
Lehman scored on an RBI single to center in the top of the seventh and had a runner in scoring position at second with two outs. Skaggs struck out the last batter to end the contest with the Buccs on top 3-2.
Covington pounded out 8 hits and played perfect defense in the field with no errors.
Carter Owens went 3-for-3 and Grant Blore went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Tanner Palsgrove drove in a run on a hit, while Tyler Jay and Jacob Tipps connected on hits as well.
Covington travels to New Bremen on Monday.