BRANDT – The Covington Lady Buccs have been chopping at the bit to start the 2022 season, but unfortunately their first two outings were rescheduled due to the unpredictable spring weather in Ohio.
Covington was slated to start the season last Saturday in a double header against Tippecanoe, but the cold weather with a dusting of snow changed the plans.
Then, the Lady Buccs were scheduled to face Bradford, the defending state champions, on Monday, but again, the weather didn’t cooperate.
So Covington opened the 2022 season at Bethel on Wednesday in a Three Rivers Conference battle and unleashed its impatient emotions with a 22-3 victory in five innings over their former CCC rivals.
Covington opened the contest with six runs in the top of the first, but Bethel was able to score three runs of its own in the bottom half of the inning to make the appearance that this game would be a high scoring affair for both teams.
But Covington clamped down at he defensive end as it held the Lady Bees scoreless throughout the remainder of the contest.
Meanwhile, the Covington offense wasn’t about to be stopped as it plated three runs in the second, seven in the third, two in the fourth and four more in the fifth to account for a 22-run effort in five innings.
In all, Covington racked up 27 hits in the contest with Kamryn Barnes and Erika Gostomsky leading the way with four hits each. Barnes also tallied five RBI, while freshman Taylor Kirker drove in six runs for the Lady Buccs. Kirker also connected on a home run.
Nigella Reck also had a huge game as she went 4-for-4 from the plate and drove in two runs while scoring two runs herself.
Junior hurler Meg Rogers picked up the win in the circle as she threw three innings. Erika Gostomsky came in for the final two innings and didn’t allow a single hit in her first outing of the young season.
SCORE BY INNINGS:
Covington – 6 – 3 – 7 – 2 – 4 = 22 – 27 – 2
Bethel – 3 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 = 3 – 4 – 3