Covington overcame mistakes and a five-run seventh inning by New Bremen to defeat the Cardinals 11-10.

April 9, 2007 – NEW BREMEN
The weather was as unpredictable as the Covington Buccaneers baseball team on Monday in a non-conference match-up with New Bremen.

One inning it was snowing heavily and the next the sun was shinning - while Covington scored runs in bunches one inning and went three-and-out the next.

Still, the Jeckle & Hyde Buccaneers managed to survive a five-run seventh inning by New Bremen to defeat the Cardinals 11-10.

"We had two innings tonight were we had mental lapses defensively." said Buccaneer coach Mitch Hirsch. "Whether it was throwing to the wrong base or committing errors, we let them back into the game with mistakes."

Covington jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, but New Bremen came right back with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

The score remained until the fourth inning when Covington added two more runs on a Kyle Kanet double that scored Andy Sparks and Jordy Burelison to give the Buccs a 5-2 lead.

Covington then blew the game open in the fifth with five more runs.

David Moss started things off with a single and Drew Craft followed with a walk.

Nate Lavey laid down a bunt and reach on a New Bremen throwing error that also scored Moss.

Brad Plank then singled to bring in Craft and then Lavey scored on a passed ball.

Andy Sparks and Kyle Kanet walked to load the bases and Plank scored on a second passed ball to push the Covington lead to 10-2.

New Bremen made a run at the Buccs by scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth and another run in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to 10-5.

The Buccaneers extended their cushion to 11-5 in the top of the seventh as Gene Studebaker wrapped a base hit that scored Sparks.

This set up a mistake filled seventh inning for Covington as New Bremen took advantage with five runs.

Studebaker came in to close the show as the Cardinals had runners at second and third.

"We swung the bats well and had solid pitching," said Hirsch. "We were fortunate to get out of here with a win because of all of the mistakes we made defensively."

Buccaneer starter Arliss Clark picked up the win after pitching two innings.

Brian Beckstedt followed with four and a half innings and Studebaker picked up the save in relief.

Kyle Kanet and David Moss each doubled and recorded 2 RBIs each. Moss and Sparks each went 2 for 3 on the afternoon.

Covington improves to 2-0-1 on the season and travels to National Trail on Tuesday.

Scoring by innings:
Covington ............3....0....0....2....5....0....1 - 11
New Bremen .......2....0....0....0....2....1....5 - 10