MARCH 29, 2011 - COVINGTON
For five innings the Covington Buccaneers hung right with a powerful hitting Anna team, but the flood gates opened in the final two innings as the visiting Rockets handed the Buccs their second straight defeat, 10-3.

"This was better than last night (against New Knoxville)," said Covington coach Mitch Hirsch. "The kids battled and that's what you want to see."

Anna jumped on Covington with three runs in the top of the first, but the Buccs held the Rockets scoreless over the next four innings.

Which was enough time for Covington to tie the game with a run in the second and two more in the fifth.

"They're a good hitting team and I felt pretty good when we tied the game in the fifth," Hirsch said. "They got the three runs in the first, but the kids really battled to get back into the game."

Anna's bats came alive in the sixth and seventh and the result was seven more runs over the final two innings.

"They (Anna) started hitting the ball and we couldn't get it stopped," Hirsch explained. "Give them credit, they had a lot of two-strike base hits and put down some nice bunts that were almost impossible to defend."

Jake Stewart started the contest and hurled 11 strikeouts in five innings of work. Stewart turned the game over to Bryton Lear after loading the bases in the sixth with no outs.

"Jake struggled early with his location, but settled down and threw a pretty good game," Hirsch said. "They (Anna) started timing him up so we brought Bryton in."

Lear closed out the sixth and Christian Carder pitched in the seventh for the Buccs.

Anna scattered eight hits against the Buccaneer pitchers, while Covington managed five hits in the contest.

Brandon Flora doubled for the Buccs, while Corey Haines went 2-for-4. Christian Carder and Sheldon Rank each singled for Covington.

Covington drops to 0-2 on the young season and looks to find its first win on Thursday at Graham.

SCORING BY INNINGS:
Anna ................3..0..0..0..0..4..3 - 10 - 8 - 1
Covington .......0..1..0..0..2..0..0 - 3 - 5 - 3