MAY 3, 2010 - WEST ALEXANDRIA
The Covington Lady Buccs continued to build momentum with one week remaining in the regular season schedule, winning another contest against a powerful softball team. Covington defeated Twin South 8-2 on Monday, avenging a 2-1 defeat that ended its season in the sectional tournament a year ago.

"We're playing well right now," said Covington coach Dean Denlinger. "It's all about attitude. We have very good attitudes and that's what is carrying us."

The victory was sweet for Covington, but it came against a team that is not at full strength. Emily Froment, last year's conference player of the year and the top pitcher for Twin Valley South, has been injured for much of the season and wasn't in the lineup again tonight.

"That's a shame (Froment being injured)," Denlinger sympathized. "They're still good without her, but she is a difference maker for them."

Still, it wasn't easy for Covington as Twin Valley South showcased a powerful hitting lineup that recorded nine hits against the solid pitching of starter Chloe Shell and closer Halley Roberts.

"They're a much better hitting team than people give them credit for," Denlinger praised. "Fortunately we played pretty good defense at times."

It was a low scoring affair for three innings with Covington scoring a run in the second and another in the third for a 2-0 lead. It could have been more, but the Lady Buccs were picked off twice on the bases in the first three innings and a total of three times in the game.

"They're catcher was tough," said Denlinger. "She has a good arm and totally took us out of our game. I couldn't get a read on her and with her quick release we couldn't do the things we like to do on the base paths."

Covington had to score runs the old fashioned way, hit the ball into open spaces. Which is what Connor Schaffer did to open the scoring in the top of the second. The freshman went yard, clearing the left field fence for a home run.

After scoring in the third, Covington put two more runs on the board in the fourth and three in the fifth to push it's lead to 7-2.

One final run scored in the top of the sixth as Covington pulled away. In all, Covington tallied 11 hits on the afternoon.

"We hit the ball well," Denlinger said.

To go along with Schaffer's home run, Hannah Pond, Aubrye Cain and Shelby Hoblit connected on hits for extra bases with doubles.

Chloe Shell went 3-for-4, while Halley Roberts went 2-for-3 and Casey Yingst went 1-for-2 with a sacrifice.

Cain drove in two runs, while Pond, Hoblit, Shell, Schaffer, Roberts and Yingst each tallied and RBI.

Shell pitched five solid innings to pick up the win for Covington. Roberts came in to pitch the final two innings for the save.

The victory pushes Covington's record to 19-3 overall and 9-2 in the CCC.

The Lady Buccs travel to Ansonia tomorrow night to close out the conference schedule before playing two makeup games against Lehman on Thursday and at Troy next Monday.

SCORING BY INNINGS:
Covington .............0...1...1...2...3...1...0 - 8 - 11 - 1
TV South ...............0...0...0...1...1...0...0 - 2 - 9 - 4