MARCH 29, 2011 - COVINGTON
There was an empty lawn chair behind the fence at home plate during the Covington Lady Buccs' season opener against Anna on Tuesday.

The chair was placed there by Covington coach Dean Denlinger in honor of Gearhardt "Pohley" Pohlschneider, a long-time fan who passed away over the winter.

"That's something for Pohley that we'll do at all of our home games," said Denlinger. "That's where he sat for every game and that's his spot."

And Pohley would be proud of the way his team played as Covington rolled over the visiting Rockets 8-0 to open the season with a win.

"We talked about Pohley before the game and I think it carried over," Denlinger said. "He loved softball. He'd show up 40 minutes before the game just to look at the book. He's missed, that's for sure."

Covington took control of the game early with a run in the first and another in the second to take a 2-0 lead.

After leaving two runners stranded in the third, Covington scored six more runs over the next three innings to take a commanding 8-0 lead.

Which was more than enough for senior hurler Chloe Shell, who went the distance in recording the shutout. Shell threw to 24 batters, struck out 13 and allowed just two hits.

"Chloe threw pretty well," said Denlinger. "She was missing some spots early, but as the game went on she got stronger."

Shell received plenty of help at the plate as Covington recorded 12 hits in the contest.

Jesse Shilt and Casey Yingst each had pair of hits and a double, while Aubrye Cain went 2-for-4 and Hannah Pond went 2-for-2. All four girls drove in runs as well.

Also recording hits for Covington were Chloe Shell, Brittanie Flora and Shainna Grilliot. Flora drove in two runs, while Shell had an RBI sacrifice.

Covington (1-0) travels to Graham on Thursday.

SCORING BY INNINGS:
Anna .............0...0...0...0...0...0...0 - 0 - 2 - 2
Covington ....1...1...0...2...2...2...x - 8 - 12 - 1