It's another banner year for the Covington Lady Buccs as they defeat Cincinnati Christian 2-1 for the District Championship.

It was a banner day for Covington softball senior Michelle Barhorst, who followed “the catch” with “the hit” in the Lady Buccs 2-1 win over Cincinnati Christian in nine innings Friday night at Tipp City in a Division IV district final.

Which was pretty fitting the way Barhorst began the day. Covington will now play the Triad-Seven Hills winner in a regional semifinal at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Wayne High School.

“We went into the gym today and looked up at the wall (where five Covington district championship softball banners hang) one more time,” Barhorst said. “We are the sixth group to do it. With winning district in basketball, we just had to find a way to get it done.”

Barhorst had no doubt she was going to end the game against Cougars ace southpaw Stephanie Berlew, when she came to the plate in the home ninth inning with the winning run in Michelle Leistner standing on third base with one out.

“I asked Michelle (Barhorst) if she wanted to bunt or wanted to hit,” Covington coach Lynnette Roeth said. “Because, I knew if she would bunt, she would reach base with the runner on third. She told me she knew she could hit the girl.”

Barhorst did exactly that, driving the ball through a hole between shortstop and third base. The ball rolled into left field for a walk-off single, as Leistner raced home with the winning run.

“I was pretty nervous,” Barhorst said with a smile. “I wasn’t worried about what she (Stephanie Berlew) threw me. I just knew I had to hit it.”

Just as big was what the rightfielder did defensively in the seventh inning.

With Emily Carroll on third with one out and the game tied 1-1, Burlew hit a rocket to right field. Barhorst made the catch and quickly threw home.

“I probably came in too far on the ball,” Barhorst said. “But, I was able to reach up and catch it. I threw it home as quick as I could because I thought (Emily Carroll) was going to tag up.”

But, the play happened so quick, Carroll was unable to tag.

“That was a huge play by Michelle (Barhorst),” Roeth said. “She is an outstanding defensive player.”

Jessica Shrout got the next out on weak grounder back to herself, as she continued a brilliant season.

Shrout, who entered the game with a .90 ERA, blanked the Cougars after allowing an unearned run in the first.

“I just wanted to throw strikes and let my defense make plays,” Shrout said.

Not that it came easy. Shrout struck out 15, while walking just one. While she pitched a five-hitter, the junior stranded 10 baserunners, including five in scoring position.

“Actually, I pitch my best when I am under pressure,” Shrout said. “That doesn’t bother me at all.”

Senior shortstop Jesie Jennings agreed.

“She is probably the calmest player out there,” Jennings said.

Which was no surprise to Roeth.

“Jessica (Shrout) pitched a great game,” she said. “She had some big strikeouts when they had runners in scoring position.”

Roeth also praised the play of catcher Erin Christian.

“Erin (Christian) hasn’t caught many game this year,” Roeth said. “She did a great job behind the plate. She didn’t let any runners advance on passed balls, which is huge in a game like this.”

Just how good a day was it for Barhorst? After being hit by a pitch in her first at bat, she struck out in her second at bat ... which scored a run to tie the game 1-1 in the third.

Katie Dickey, who went 2-for-4 from the nine spot with a double, was on third with two outs when Barhorst struck out.

The ball got past catcher Allison Radomski and Barhorst beat the throw to first, with Dickey crossing the plate on the throw.

It looked like Covington might win the game in the seventh. Kristen Boggs had line a double to the fence in right-center field. With two outs, Sarah Ciriegio hit a looper towards right field that had game-winning hit written all over it.

But, second baseman Whitney Day made a juggling catch. The ball bounced off her glove and up into the air and Day was able to snag it with her bare hand.

“I had sent Kristen (Boggs) home on the play,” Roeth said. “I was blocked. I didn’t think the girl had caught the ball, then I saw everybody running in.”

While the Lady Buccs don’t care who the next opponent is, they haven’t forgotten being run-ruled by Triad last year in the tournament.

“It doesn’t matter who we play,” Roeth said. “But, we played Triad earlier this spring (beating them at Triad). The girls know we can play with them and that (getting run-ruled) is not going to happen again.”

Berlew, who came into the game with a .58 ERA and 186 strikeouts, pitched a seven hitter and struck out five. Berlew stranded 11 Bucc runners, including pitching out of a bases-loaded, one out jam in the fifth.

She led the Cougars at the plate with two hits and the only time she was retired was on the Barhorst “catch” in the seventh.

Shrout thought back to that play after the game. At the time, she wasn’t overly concerned.

“I was just hoping Michelle (Barhorst) would catch the ball,” Shrout said.

After all, nothing was going to stand in the way of this being a “banner” day for Barhorst and the Lady Buccs.

LINESCORE
Cincinnati Christian ....100....000....000 — 1 5 5
Covington ...............001....000....001 — 2 7 4

Burlew and Rodomski. Shrout and Christian. WP-Shrout. LP-Burlew.
2B-Covington: Boggs, Dickey. Records: Covington 15-5, Cincinnati Christian 18-5.