COVINGTON – Covington’s Jensen Wagoner is a special talent on the baseball field and that was evident on Wednesday in a Three River Conference contest against Miami East.
The Buccaneer senior threw a magnificent game on the hill for Covington – striking out nine, walking two and allowing just four hits in a game that went eight innings. He also had players behind him that had his back by making outstanding plays on defense against a very good Viking team who hits the ball very well.
Covington racked up six hits in the first seven innings and had opportunities to score, but couldn’t get the big hit to put runners across the plate – not until the eighth inning with the score knotted at 0-0.
After Wagoner shut down Miami East in the top of the eighth, Buccaneer senior Kody Nelson opened the bottom of the eighth with a walk. He then reached second on a passed ball as Wagoner walked to the plate with one out.
Wagoner, who went 2-for-4 in the game, took a 1-2 pitch to right field and Covington coach Andy Johnson waved Nelson around third toward home. The throw to Miami East catcher Layton Hughes was on target, but Nelson managed to leap around the tag and landed on home plate for the winning run – bringing the entire Buccaneer team out of the dugout for a celebration.
It was the second victory of the season for Covington over Miami East by a one-run margin – the first being on April 14th by the score of 9-8. The excitement of both games only enhances the rivalry between the two schools in all sports – a rivalry that is very competitive, yet respectful.
Statistically for Covington, Connor Humphrey matched Wagonor with two hits, while Jake Dilley, Tanner Palsgrove and Trey Schmelzer record a hit a piece.
The Buccaneers improve to 8-9 overall and move into second place in the TRC standings with an 8-5 league record.
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