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Lower Seeds Win Again
Covington 2, Winchester 1
Covington continued its Cinderella run through the 2009 VBL playoffs by seizing home field advantage from Winchester with a 2-1, game one win Thursday at Bridgeforth Field.
The 'Jacks won the contest without the benefit of a hit - Winchester's Corey Williams and Jorge Marban combined to pitch a no-hitter, but three walks issued by Williams to start the seventh allowed Covington to score two runs and take the eventual win.
Adam Browett put the ball in play that got the two runs across the plate - he hit a high chopper to the first baseman whose throw to the plate was too late trying to get the runner from third for the first run, and when the ball skipped by the catcher, the winning run scored all the way from second.
Williams did all he could in the losing effort with nine strikeouts in 6.0 innings before Marban struck out another six in the final three innings.
Winchester scored its only run on a Jordan Steranka sac fly.
The ‘Jacks can now clinch a spot in the 2009 VBL Championship with a victory Friday night at home.
Game two starters: Bryon Mendenhall (Win), Mark Pierce (Cov)
Haymarket 6, New Market 0
Grant Sasser put No. 7 Haymarket one game away from clinching a spot in the VBL Championship by striking out nine in 6.0 innings of a 6-0 whitewash over New Market Thursday evening.
Sasser allowed just one hit and walked four before turning it over to Jack Leathersich and the Mark Andrews to complete the one-hit, shutout victory.
The Senators can complete the sweep at home Friday night.
Michael Lang, Tom La Stella and Scott Van Dusseldorp had two hits apiece for the victors.
McKinnon Langston had the Rebels only hit with a first inning single.
Game two starters: Joe Hammond (NM) vs TBA (Hay)
