MAY 13, 2010 - SIDNEY
In four of the last five years the Covington Buccaneers saw their season end to Lehman in the sectional tournament - even after defeating the Cavaliers earlier in the season.

The tables were turned this year, however, as Covington knocked Lehman out of the tournament with a 13-9 victory after dropping a double-header to the Cavaliers on April 3rd, 6-3 and 19-5.

"It feels good to finally get that monkey off our backs," said a thrilled Covington coach Mitch Hirsch. "They've beaten us in the tournament three years in a row and four out of the last five years, so yes, this feels really good."

After leaving four runners stranded in the first two innings, Covington finally got on the board first with a run in the top of the third.

But Lehman erupted with a five-run inning in the bottom of the third to take a 5-1 lead. Suddenly, it looked like deja vu for the young Buccaneers.

"The kids were not happy," explained Hirsch in regards to the mentality in the dugout after the big third inning by Lehman. "But they knew there was a long way to go and a lot of baseball left."

And the Buccaneers kept their composure by exploding for eight runs in the top of the third to reclaim the lead 9-5.

It was two big hits by junior Kellen Woloch that sparked the Covington rally.

"Corey (Haines) walked to open the inning and Kellen hit a home run to the opposite field," Hirsch explained. "That home run really got us going. The kids fed off that and just kept hitting."

Later in the inning Woloch connected on a bases loaded double, again to the opposite field as he cleared the bases for a total of five RBI in the inning. He ended the contest with three hits in four at bats with a home run, a double and five RBI.

"Kellen stepped up tonight," Hirsch said. "Actually, all the kids did. We had 16 hits tonight, which was a season high for us."

Lehman responded once again in the bottom of the fourth with three runs to cut the margin to 9-8.

But once again, Covington didn't get rattled and put three more runs on the board in the top of the fifth - all coming with two outs.

"Every time they would score, we would respond," said Hirsch. "That was big."

Lehman looked like it was going to cut into the Covington lead in the bottom of the fifth as it had bases loaded with two outs.

But Covington pitcher Jake Stewart, who had came in to relieve Adam Craft in the fourth inning, recorded the strikeout for the third out to end the threat.

"That was a big strikeout," Hirsch said.

Lehman did get a run in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Covington responded once again with a run in the top of the seventh for a 13-9 lead - leaving the Buccs just three outs from knocking off their nemesis.

"As the game went on into the later innings the kids started to feel it," Hirsch described. "They could sense we were getting close."

Covington closed the show in the bottom of the seventh, recording the three outs it needed to finally get that monkey off their backs.

"Really, only Jake (Bitner) and Adam (Craft) have been a part of that (losing to Lehman the past few years)," Hirsch said. "The other kids know, but most of them weren't a part of it. Maybe that helped us because there really wasn't any pressure."

Covington played loose, even when Lehman got some momentum.

"The kids were having fun, playing loose and relaxed," continued Hirsch. "They were ready to play and we play the way we did tonight we can play with anybody."

To go along with Woloch's big night at the plate, Steven Blei went 4-for-5 with two doubles and four RBI and Brandon Flora drove in three runs on a 2-for-4 night.

C.J. Poling went 3-for-4 and Andrew DeHart recorded a pair of hits on two at bats.

Both Adam Craft and Jake Bitner singled.

Craft recorded the win for the Buccs, pitching three innings before turning things over to Jake Stewart, who picked up the save.

Covington improves to 10-17 on the season and will play in the sectional final on Wednesday at Sidney.

SCORING BY INNINGS:
Covington ........0...0...1...8...3...0...1 - 13 - 16 - 3
Lehman ............0...0...5...3...0...1...0 - 9 - 11 - 1