Covington County’s 8U softball All-Stars started the tournament with a 16-1 win over Ashland, but fell to Roanoke and Linevelle.

ROANOKE 15,
COVINGTON COUNTY 5
In Covington County’s second game, County’s bats could not keep up with the Roanoke bats as Roanoke plated 15 runs cruising to a 15-5 victory.
In the top of the first inning, County took an early lead as Katelyn Ranta reached on an error. Sophie Pettus followed with an RBI single just past the Roanoke second baseman. Ranta came all the way around from first base to put County up 1-0.
In the second inning, Covington County scored two more runs as Layla Walker reached on a hit followed by Jenna Kate Clark reaching on an error allowing Walker to score.
The next batter, Olivia Griggs, came up big with a fielder’s choice RBI putting County up 3-0. Roanoke’s bats came to life in the bottom of the inning as they plated four runs, putting them up 4-3.
The hits kept on coming from Roanoke as they scored four more runs in the third inning and seven runs in the fourth inning, taking a 15-3 lead.
County added two more runs as Annlee Wise and Bella Griffin came around to score on hits from Olivia Griggs and Ellie Mooney.
In the end, Roanoke came out on top 15-5 after five innings due to the mercy rule.

LINEVILLE 20,
COVINGTON COUNTY 5
In an elimination game on Saturday, Covington County again got out to an early lead in the top of the first inning.
Kinsley Short started off the scoring with a hard-hit ball to the shortstop scoring Katelyn Ranta.
Annlee Wise followed with a double, scoring Short and putting County ahead 2-0. Lineville quickly answered, scoring six runs in the bottom of the first.
In the top of the second, Bella Griffin and Layla Walker reached base safely on hits. They later come around to score off a fielder’s choice by both Jenna Kate Clark and Ellie Mooney, making the score 6-4.
Lineville scored five more runs in the bottom of the second inning, making it 11-4.
In the third and fourth innings, County fought hard, getting several big hits from Sophie Pettus, Kinsley Short, Annlee Wise, Caroline Blackwell, Layla Walker and Carleigh Irelan. However, County’s defense could not hold down Lineville’s strong bats.
Lineville added eight runs in the fifth inning to take a 19-11 lead.
County tacked on a few more runs in the sixth, but ultimately fell in the end, 20-5.
Covington County head coach Mendy Clark stated that she was very proud of this group of girls.
“I’m so proud of this team. It has been a privilege to work with these girls every day. They’ve given up a month of their summer to play ball,” Clark said. “That alone says a lot about their dedication and commitment. Even though the tournament didn’t end the way would’ve liked for it to, I couldn’t be prouder of them. We were beaten by two very good teams in Roanoke and Lineville.”
Clark said that playing on an all-star team is more than just playing softball games. “It’s an opportunity to form friendships that last a lifetime,” Clark said. “And I think this group of girls have done that.”