MISCUES COST LADY BUCCS IN LOSS TO MIAMI EAST

  • Post category:SOFTBALL
Nell Rogers makes a diving catch in right field. ©Ben Robinson/Color Green Photo

COVINGTON – Covington dropped a 12-3 contest to Miami East on Monday, but the contest was much more competitive than the final score.

Unfortunately for Covington, there were several miscues that led to more opportunities for Miami East to put additional runs on the board. The Lady Vikings are a very good team and they took advantage of every mistake the Lady Buccs made.

Miami East scored a run in the top of the first after Covington shut down the first two batters. The Lady Buccs followed by tying the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first, but another potential run for Covington was denied by a play at home plate.

The Lady Buccs kept Miami East in check in the top of the second with a huge play made in right field on a diving catch by Nell Rogers. This ignited the Lady Buccs as they scored two runs in the bottom of the second to take a 3-1 lead.

Unfortunately, more runs could have been scored by the Lady Buccs in the second, but Miami East made a huge defensive play by throwing out a Covington runner at third.

Neither team scored in the third inning, but once again the Lady Buccs had a golden opportunity to put at least one more run on the board. Miami East ended the threat by recording a double play as a fly ball was caught in right field and a Covington runner was thrown out at third base once again.

The score remained 3-1 in Covington’s favor heading into the top of the fifth, but Miami East was able to plate three runs in the inning to take a 4-3 lead, one coming on a dropped ball at the plate on an attempted tag for an out.

In the top of the sixth, the Lady Buccs had a chance to get out of the inning without allowing Miami East another run. The golden opportunity came with one out as a ground ball was fielded by a Lady Bucc defender as a Viking runner was running toward the next base. Instead of tagging the runner and throwing to first for a double play, the tag was never made when the ball was tossed to first for the second out of the inning. Miami East took advantage by scoring three more runs to take a 7-3 lead, two of them coming on a two-run home run.

Miami East had all of the momentum with one inning to play and capped the game by scoring five more runs, three coming on a three-run home run.

Overall, the Lady Buccs played with determination and effort as evident by several great defensive plays made throughout the game – plays that go unnoticed due to the final score. Great catches were made in the outfield by Nell Rogers, Emalyn Johnson and Stevi Newhouse and freshman shortstop Ava Hartwig had a great game by making several big plays – one on a double play. Also, Elizabeth Coblentz made a great catch on a popup behind the plate and Taylor Foutz chased down a foul ball around first base.

Karyanne Turner threw well, but the unfortunate circumstances led to a loss.

Some of the mistakes made by Covington were not recorded as errors and probably wouldn’t have affected the Lady Buccs against other teams, but Miami East was able to take advantage of circumstances.

The loss drops Covington’s record to 14-7 overall and 9-3 in the TRC, while Miami East improves to 16-2 overall and takes complete control of the league with a 10-1 record.

The Lady Buccs are resilient and look to rebound tomorrow at Riverside to close out the league schedule.

Stevi Newhouse slaps a hit against the Vikings. ©Ben Robinson/Color Green Photo
Kamryn Barnes drives a ball into the outfield against Miami East. ©Ben Robinson/Color Green Photo
Emalyn Johnson hauls in a catch in center field as she almost collides with Ava Hartwig. ©Ben Robinson/Color Green Photo