Christian Perez takes part in the Class 3A state pole vault Tuesday afternoon in Murfreesboro. Photo by Jeff Ireland
Murfreesboro – Day one of the Spring Fling state championships here saw ups and downs for Tipton County athletes on Tuesday. Covington baseball won its opener, while Munford baseball and Brighton softball lost their openers. Munford’s boys’ track team made some history. Here’s the lowdown on everything in day one:
Covington baseball
The Chargers scored three runs in the first two innings and made that hold up in a 3-1 win vs. Montgomery Central.
Things got dicey in the top of the sixth when Central put two people on base and scored a run to make the score 3-1. But a pick off and some solid defensive play stopped the rally.
Second baseman Brennan Forbess made a diving stop and throw to end things in the top of the seventh and Covington moved on. The Chargers play Tullahoma Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.
Starter Parker Davis pitched very well but had to leave the game in the fifth with an injury. Lane Butler relieved him in the fifth and preserved the win.
“The big thing was we were able to get the win and still preserve (Parker) Davis because if we are able to advance he’ll be able to come back for us,” said Covington head coach Brad Warmath. “He’s injured, but we’ll have to see how that is. For Butler to come out like he did was huge for us. He’s never been in that situation.”
“It was a tough game, but it reminds me of last year,” said senior Christopher Godwin. “We won the first game and dropped the next two. What they’ve been preaching to us is win the next one. Just take it one game at a time.”
Munford baseball
The Cougars rallied in the bottom of the sixth to cut the deficit vs. Upperman to 2-1, but Upperman scored three in the top of the seventh to secure a 5-1 win in the state opener.
Munford will try to stave off elimination Wednesday at 10 a.m. vs. Sullivan East.
Garrett McKinney had two of Munford’s three hits and drove in Munford’s only run.
Brighton softball
Brie Howard hit a solo homer and doubled in another run for Brighton but it wasn’t enough in a 4-3 loss to Lincoln County.
Adin Shelton added two hits for Brighton, which had three hits. Timily David had the other. Katelyn Jones struck out four and allowed eight hits over six innings.
Brighton plays an elimination game Wednesday at 10 a.m. vs. Soddy Daisy.
Track and field
The Munford boys’ track team made some history by taking second as a team, the best finish in the program’s history. More details coming. Brighton’s Maddux Anderson took second in the pole vault with a PR of 12 feet three inches. Christian Perez and Jace Hodgin of Munford took fourth and fifth, meaning Tipton County had three of the top five.
