APRIL 14, 2011 - NEW PARIS
Every loss is hard to swallow, but some are a little easier when you walk off the field knowing your team took a step forward.

That's the way Covington coach Mitch Hirsch felt Thursday night after his Buccaneers dropped a hard-fought 3-0 decision to National Trail.

"We played a lot better tonight than we did last night at Milton," Hirsch said. "We had good pitching and pretty good defense. We just couldn't get the big hit when we needed it."

Covington outhit National Trail 5 to 4, but the host Blazers managed to get the big hits when it needed. Those hits came in the first inning and resulted in all three of the runs scored in the contest.

"One of those runs was unearned, but other than that they hit the ball well," Hirsch said of the Blazers. "They only had four hits in the game and most of those were in the first inning."

Austin Angle went the distance on the mound for the Buccs, only surrendering the four hits and recording three strikeouts.

"Austin threw really well again," Hirsch explained. "He struggled a little bit early, but he settled in and threw very well. He got his curve ball working and threw strikes."

Covington had several chances to put runs on the board, but couldn't come up with the big two-out hit.

"We had two runners on in both the fifth and sixth innings, but couldn't get the hit to bring them in," said Hirsch. "We didn't adjust to their pitcher and get the hit when we needed it."

Jake Stewart went 2-for-2, while Sheldon Rank doubled and a pair of singles were lined by Kellen Woloch and Brandon Flora.

After suffering its second straight loss, Covington looks to rebound at Tri-County North tomorrow.

SCORING BY INNINGS:
Covington ............0..0..0..0..0..0..0 - 0 - 5 - 2
National Trail .......3..0..0..0..0..0..x - 3 - 4 - 0