APRIL 15, 2011 - LEWISBURG
One inning spelled doom for the Covington Buccaneers as they dropped a 7-6 heartbreaker to the Tri-County North Panthers on Friday.

And that inning was a five-run sixth inning onslaught by the Panthers after Covington had built a 5-2 lead.

"I thought we played well enough to win, but we just had that one bad inning," said Covington coach Mitch Hirsch.

Covington was on the verge of getting out of the inning without any damage despite seeing Tri-County North load the bases.

That's because the Buccs appeared to have the third out at the plate, but the close call went the other way. Despite a strong argument from Hirsch, the call stood.

From the vantage point from Covington's dugout, it did look like Steven Blei made the tag in time, but even the Buccaneer faithful who saw it from the other side said the call was the correct one.

"It was close," Hirsch said. "I thought we made the tag in time and that's why I went out there."

It was a huge turning point in the game as the Panthers followed with three straight hits that scored four more runs to take a 7-5 lead.

But Covington battled back in the top of the seventh as Jake Stewart connected on an RBI double. The Buccs couldn't do any more damage, however, as two straight fly balls ended the game.

"The kids don't quit," said Hirsch. "We didn't catch any breaks, but the kids hung in there and played hard."

Stewart started the game for the Buccs and went three innings before injuring his throwing hand while sliding into home.

"Jake was throwing really well until he hurt his wrist," Hirsch explained. "He hasn't thrown in a couple of weeks, but he had things working tonight."

Steven Blei came in and threw for the remainder of the contest.

"Steven threw well too," Hirsch said. "I don't have any complaints about the way he threw, even in the sixth inning when they got all those runs. We just couldn't get the out when we needed it and that wasn't on him."

Covington drops to 2-8 overall and 2-2 in the CCC and travels to New Bremen on Monday.

SCORING BY INNINGS:
Covington .....................0..3..0..1..1..0..1 - 6 - 7 - 1
Tri-County North ..........0..0..1..0..1..5..x - 7 - 9 - 1