By the way it started, the VISAA Division 2 title game looked just like any other game for Covenant. The first three innings saw the Eagles assume control of the game with a couple of big hits and some quality defense and pitching. However, from the fourth inning on, it was all Cape Henry.
Dropping a 5-run fourth on Covenant and adding some insurance runs in the fifth and sixth, the Dolphins took home the VISAA Division II championship, 9-3.
“To win the VIC and to be playing in this game, it’s been a pretty remarkable run,” said Eagles coach Doug Smethurst. “We’re awfully proud of these kids. We just run out of gas today and that’s nobody’s fault.”
Covenant came out early and look quite comfortable. After Sean Rutherford drew a walk, Sam Patterson slugged a 2-run blast while Chris Shifflett came up with an RBI double in the top of the first to give the Eagles a 3-0 advantage.
On the mound, Lee Coppock was also in command early as he retired his first eight batters in a row.
Conversely, Dolphins pitcher Tyler Ballard settled in and silenced the Covenant offense. In the fourth inning, Cape Henry was finally able to get its bats going. A pair of walks and a pair of RBI doubles with no outs shrunk Covenant’s lead to just one run. Then a 3-run homer from Jack Wynkoop shifted the balance.
“When we came out I thought we were trying to do too much,” said Dolphins coach Ryan Morris. “Then we got behind and our competitive nature took over. We started swinging at good pitches and just ground it out.”
Covenant had two more scoring chances in the game, putting two runners in scoring position in the fifth with one out and loading the bases in the sixth with two outs, but clutch defensive plays from the Dolphins defense left the Eagles empty handed.
Cape Henry scored two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings, and with a 6-run lead, shut the door in the seventh.
Patterson finished the game 1 for 4 with two RBIs. Rutherford was 2 for 3. Coppock went 2 for 3 while both Shifflett and Clark Crutchfield were 1 for 3.
With just one senior on the roster in Logan Gower, it’s possible that Covenant could return next year with a relatively full cupboard. And while that one senior’s high school career ended one win short of the best possible scenario, Gower is proud of the effort and he his teammates put together all year and leaves the school with fond memories of this team’s chemistry.
“One thing I can say is that we always showed up to play every game,” Gower said. “Even today, we lost, but we came out and played strong early. It’s been a great year and I love everyone on this team. That’s been the best part. This team actually functions as a team. There’s been no individualism.”
