MAY 24, 2010 - BROOKVILLE
Covington softball coach Dean Denlinger doesn't like to lose under any circumstances.

"It is just not in my makeup," Denlinger said. "I have been that way since I played for Frosty Brown."

But, Monday's 5 -1 loss to Felicity Franklin in 11 innings in a coompletion of a suspended game for the Division IV district title was particularly hard to take.

"The shame of it is we didn't lose to a better team," Denlinger said. "We have played some of the top ranked teams in the area and state. We feel like we can play with anybody. But, we certainly didn't bring our A game today."

It was evident from the first pitch. The game resumed in the top of the ninth and Jordan White's fly ball on Chloe Shell's first pitch was misjudged, resulting in a double. It was a sign of things to come.

But, Shell did a great job of pitching out of jams in the ninth and 10th.

After White moved to third with one out in the ninth, Shell got a strikeout and ground out to end the threat. In the 10th, Felicity had runners on second and third with two out, but Shell got another ground out to frustrate Felicity.

"Chloe (Shell) pitched a great game," Denlinger said. "She showed a lot of heart out there."

But, even Shell, couldn't overcome her defense in the 11th.

After a single to start the inning, a bad decision and two errors led to four unearned runs and the end of Covington's season.

It was uncharacteristic for the Lady Buccs defense.

"We have made the plays all year," Denlinger said. "But, we didn't today."

After the leadoff single, a sacrifice bunt turned into first and second with no outs, when the decision was made to throw to second base, where the runner easily beat the throw.

After a strikeout, a double steal put runners on second and third. A routine ground ball led to a throwing error that scored the winning run and three more runners would cross the plate before the inning ended.

Montana Wear then set the Lady Buccs down in order to end the game.

Covington had gotten a two-out double from Carol Basye in the ninth and a one-out single from Aubrye Cain in the tenth, but could not move either runner.

Covington finishes the season 22-6, which included a win over nationally ranked Greenville. But, Denlinger had much bigger expectations.

"I feel bad for the kids to end the season this way," he said. "But, that shouldn't take away from the season. We have her (Chloe Shell) back and we were young this year. We had eight freshman and three or four were playing at times. So, we will start again next year."

With the same philosophy that losing is never acceptable.

LINESCORE
Felicity Franklin ......100 000 000 04 - 5..10..0
Covington ..............001 000 000 00 - 1..10..3

Wear and H. White. Shell and Westfall. WP-Wear. LP-Shell. 2B-Felicity Franklin: J. White. Covington: Cain, Basye. Records: Covington 22-6.

MAY 22, 2010 - BROOKVILLE
One play, which didn't show up in the scorebook other than a strike on a Felicity batter, symbolizes just how bad the Covington Lady Buccs want to continue the 2010 season with a district championship.

That play came in the bottom of the seventh inning when senior catcher Sarah Westfall sacrificed her body in an attempt to catch a foul ball, landing chest first on the cinder block wall around home plate. The impact of Westfall's effort snapped her head back, but she brushed it off and went back to work behind the plate.

Westfall never came up with the ball, but her effort and determination made an impression even though the game was called in the bottom of the eighth inning in a 1-1 tie due to darkness.

The two teams resume action on Monday at 5:00pm.

"You know, we have to win this game for our seniors," said Covington coach Dean Denlinger. "They've worked way too hard for a long time for us to come out of there without a win. Look at Sarah with the effort she gave. We're very fortunate she didn't get hurt, but that's how bad these kids want this."

Giving effort is what Delinger has preached all year and is what has gotten Covingon this deep into the tournament.

"We stress giving 100% all the time," he said. "If you watched the way we warmed up and the diving catches in the outfield, you can see these kids are doing that."

Felicity scored in the top of the first and had runners at second and third, but Covington pitcher Chloe Shell and the Lady Bucc defense managed to get out of the inning without further damage.

Covington, on the other hand, set the tone in its first at bat as three of the four batters made good contact on the ball against Felicity hurler Montana Wear, recognized as one of the premier pitchers in the state.

"We're hitting her (Wear)," said Denlinger as Covington had racked up eight hits in the contest. "They say she throws in the mid-sixties, but we're making her work."

Unfortunately, the Lady Buccs couldn't bring in any runs in the first inning and it took until the third inning for Covington to tie the score.

Chloe Shell led off with a base hit and Emily Hicks came in as a pinch runner. Heidi Snipes reached in a bunt and Aubrye Cain loaded the bases with a single.

Sarah Westfall came up big with a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Hicks, but Covington couldn't take advantage with one more clutch hit and settled for the one run.

"If we could have scored another run there, that would have been big," said Denlinger.

Felicity threatened in the top of the seventh as it put a runner on third base, but Covington shortstop Casey Yingst gathered the third out on a pop-up.

Covington had its chance to end the game in the bottom of the eighth as the sun settled behind the trees in center field.

Aubrye Cain connected on a one-out double and was given third base as she was impeded by the Felicity first baseman.

After a squeeze attempt failed, Felicity walked Sarah Westfall, who was replaced by Jesse Shilt as a pinch runner. Shilt stole second to set the stage for a potential thrilling victory for Covington.

Shelby Hoblit connected on a shot to shallow center field that was ran down by Felicity with a shoe string catch to end the threat.

The officials then called the game due to darkness, forcing both teams to make the trip to Brookville for the third time on Monday - a trip Denlinger and the Lady Buccs are looking forward to.

"We're playing with passion right now," Denlinger said. "You can see it. I feel pretty good about the mental frame of mind of these kids."

SCORING BY INNINGS:
Felicity .........................1...0...0...0...0...0...0...0 - 1 .. 4 .. 0
Covington ....................0...0...1...0...0...0...0...0 - 1 .. 8 .. 1