April 14, 2009 – COVINGTON
With Miami East fireballer Kelly Mayer and Covington ace Chloe Shell taking the pitcher's mound Tuesday afternoon at Covington, it was no surprise runs were at premium.

"We talked before the game about how important it was going to be to do the little things," Miami East coach Brian Kadel said. "Whether it was on the bases or making plays on defense."

The Lady Vikings did exactly that, taking advantage of two Covington errors in the fourth inning to score three runs. Mayer made that stand up in an important 3-0 victory, that evened the Lady Vikings record in the CCC at 1-1 and dropped the Lady Buccs from the ranks of the unbeaten.

"Covington is a good team," Kadel said. "They came in here undefeated. One of our goals is to win the league. We lost to Ansonia last week and you certainly don't want to start out 0-2 in the league."

Covington coach Dean Denlinger knew it was going to be a tough game for the Buccs.

"I coach junior high basketball at Miami East, so I am familiar with the girls," Denlinger said. "They are bunch of nice girls and they are very well coached. They are good team."

And it all came down to the fourth inning — where Miami East took advantage of its opportunity and Covington didn't.

Amanda Woolley started the Lady Vikings rally with an infield single. Mayer put down a bunt and when the throw was wild, East had runners on second and third with no outs. Brittany Garrison hit a rocket to shortstop Kristen Boggs.

When throw bounced off catcher Sarah Westfall's glove and went to the backstop, both Woolley and Mayer scored to make it 2-0.

Following a single by Alysha Coverstone, Kelsey Bates' sacrfice fly made it 3-0.

"We were the ones that made a couple mistakes," Denlinger said.

In the home fourth, it looked Covington was in position for a big-inning. Katie Dickey had an infield single, Covington's only hit in the game and a wild throw on Kristen Boggs grounder made it look like the Lady Buccs would have runners on second and third with no outs.

But, Garrison chased down the overthrow and threw a strike to catcher Jeni Accurso. East caught the lead runner between third and home and Mayer followed with two strikeouts to keep Covington scoreless.

"That was a huge play," Kadel said. "They would have two runners in scoring position with no outs."

It was the last scoring threat by either team, with Mayer aided by some spectacular defense.

Third baseman Bates looked like Brooks Robinson, robbing Covington hitters twice with diving stops at the hot corner.

And fittingly, the game ended with Lady Viking shortsop Kristi Brown making a play that would have made Ozzie Smith proud. She extended herself to make a diving stop and stuck the ball on the bag to get the force at second base.

"Kesley Bates made a couple great stops," Kadel said. "And, of course, the play at the end of the game by Kristi (Brown)."

He would get no argument from Denlinger.

"They made some great plays on defense against us," he said. "That happens. We will be back."

Shell pitched a four-hitter, with two of those infield singles. She struck out two and walked one.

Covington, 7-1 overall and 0-1 in the CCC, will play at National Trail Thursday.

LINESCORE
Miami East ...000...300...0 — 3 4 4
Covington ....000...000...0 — 0 1 2

Mayer and Accurso. Shell and Westfall. WP-Mayer. LP-Shell.
Records: Miami East 6-3 (1-1). Covington 7-1 (0-1).