May 9, 2008 - ANSONIA
Covington softball coach Dean Denlinger couldn't have picked a better way for his team to finish the regular season as the Lady Buccs knocked off the second ranked team in the state, the Ansonia Tigers.

"This is a big, big win," said Denlinger. "It gives us some confidence heading into the tournament that we can play with anybody."

The game, which will go into the books as a 2-1 Covington victory, was called due to weather with the Lady Buccs holding a 4-1 advantage with Ansonia batting with two outs in the bottom of the sixth.

By OHSAA rules the deciding score for a regular season game goes back to the last completed inning when the game is ended prematurely due to weather, unless the score is tied.

"It's odd, because if we were behind after five innings and came back to take the lead in the top of the sixth, we would have lost because of the rule," Denlinger explained. "We would have liked to come back and complete the game and I'm sure they would too. But from what I understand the other teams who are fighting it out with Ansonia for the conference championship could have protested."

Ansonia broke a scoreless tie with a run in the bottom of the third, but Covington responded with what would ultimately be the deciding runs in the top of the fourth.

Erin Christian was perched on second base with two outs in the inning as Shelby Hoblit came to the plate.

The sophomore got a hold of a Brittany Mayo pitch and drilled a two-run home run to give Covington the 2-1 lead.

"I was told that was the first home run Mayo has given up," Denlinger said. "It couldn't have come at a better time."

Covington pitcher Kristen Boggs was on her game and held Ansonia in check.

The Lady Buccs then scored two more runs in the top of the sixth to push the lead to 4-1.

Ansonia attempted to get get back into the game in the bottom of the sixth as it put a runner on first base with two outs.

But the weather conditions became too severe for the game to continue as the officiating crew determined the game had to end.

"It (the weather) was horrible," said Denlinger. "We would have liked for the game to go all seven innings, but it was out of our control. The weather didn't cooperate."

Still, it didn't take away from the satisfaction of getting a big win over a state ranked team.

"I'm proud of how the girls battle," Denlinger said. "We had a terrible infield before the game and I pulled the girls aside for a talk. The kids came out fired up and ready to play."

Boggs, who went the distance, struck out seven batters and allowed just one hit, was determined on the mound.

"She really pitched well, maybe better than she has all year," praised Denlinger. "She wanted the ball in her hands. You could see it in her eyes."

Covingon had five hits and each came from different players.

But the biggest hit of the night was Hoblit's, which officially secured the win.

Covington finishes its regular season at 15-8 overall and 8-4 in the CCC. The Lady Buccs begin tournament play at home on Tuesday against Yellow Springs.

Scoring by Innings:
Covington ........0...0...0...2...0...2 - 4 .. 5 .. 1
Ansonia ............0...0...1...0...0...x - 1 .. 1 .. 3

Official Score: 2-1