Covington baseball advances to seventh state title game

In Covington’s first two state tournament games, there was very little drama as the Chargers jumped to early leads and held on.

Friday’s game vs. Tennessee High was a little different.

The Chargers trailed 3-2 before erupting for eight runs in the last two innings en route to a 10-3 win. Covington will play Upperman Saturday at Siegel High School in Murfreesboro at a time to be determined in the Class 3A state title game.

Covington’s offense, like it has throughout the state tournament, came from various places as four players had multiple hits.

Holden Warmath was 2 for 3 with a triple and four RBIs and Paxton Messer was 2 for 3 and drove in two runs. Christopher Godwin drove in a pair of runs, Bo Dunavant was 2 for 3 with an RBI and Lane Butler singled twice. Cameron Tindall had a hit an RBI and Brennan Forbess, Benjamin Smith and William Davis each singled.

Three days after closing out game one in relief, Butler got the start and pitched well again. He struck out two and allowed nine hits and three runs over five innings to pick up the win. Davis and Warmath held Tennessee hitless in relief. Centerfielder Braden Gover caught a fly ball for the final out and Covington celebrated its seventh appearance in a state title game.

With Thursday’s games cancelled because of rain, Covington will have several of its pitchers available to pitch as it seeks its fourth state title on Saturday.