Covington County took two losses on its first day of action at the 2013 16-18 Babe Ruth Baseball World Series on Friday.

The host team, which had to play two games yesterday because of the rain delay Thursday night, lost 12-8 to Dexter, Mo. in its morning game, and fell 6-0 to San Benito, Calif. in the night cap at LBWCC’s Crum Foshee Field.

With the threat of rain dogging the entire day of the tournament, play went ahead as normal and ahead of schedule.

Action will resume today at 10 a.m., with games following at 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

 

San Benito, Calif. 6, Covington County 0

Multiple errors plagued Covington County as the Pacific Southwest representative took advantage with a 3-0 lead by the fourth inning.

Earlier in the game, CC caught itself in a jam with San Benito having bases loaded with one out in the second inning.

John Bess, who was the host team’s third-baseman, caught a pop up for the second out and then made a heck-of-a-play to get the force at his base for the final.

All of this wouldn’t have been done without the help of pitcher Jordan Walker, who played his heart out on the mound.

San Benito went ahead 4-0 in the fifth on a throwing error by catcher Justin Scherzinger.

Another error later by Bess put the California team ahead 5-0.

The game was at 6-0 after the sixth inning.

Covington County showed some gall in the top of the seventh by loading the bases with two outs, but nothing came from it.

Chase Short, Brandon Smith and Will Harrison had one hit each to lead Covington County.

Greg Steinbeck got the win on the mound for San Benito. He threw six innings, struck out six and allowed three hits.

Dylan Yamasaki, Marcus Sabatte, Richard Beltran, Zackry Moeller, Rob Soto and Tony Amaral had one hit each to lead San Benito.

 

Dexter, Mo. 12, Covington County 8

Covington County played dead during the first three innings of play, but woke up from its slumber to make the game interesting.

The host team scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth to bring some life to the game, and added a couple more later to keep the game respectable.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Missouri team went ahead 10-0 and was eyeing a mercy-rule win.

Before the start of the bottom of the fourth, Covington County coach Eddie Stacey got a few players together and gave some instruction.

What unfolded was Ross Graham hitting a bunt single; Chase Short getting a hit; Scherzinger moving runners over; Johnny Owens nailing an RBI single; Short scoring on an error; and Bess launching a two-out, two-run double to bring the game to 10-4.

In the bottom of the fifth, Short hit an RBI double to cut the game to 10-5.

Dexter’s Tyler Anderson increased his team’s lead to a seven-run advantage on a two-run double in the top of the seventh, putting the game out of reach for the host team.

Covington County didn’t back down in the final inning, as Owens hit an RBI single to make it 12-7 later on, and Brandon Taylor hitting a run in on a fielder’s choice.

Graham went 3-for-4 with two singles; Short went 2-for-4 with two doubles; Bess went 2-for-3; Scherzinger, Owens and Cody Marler — who had a hot day at the plate — had one hit each to lead Covington County.

Dexter’s Trey Tigart struck out six and allowed eight runs on 10 hits in a complete game for the Nuts.

Chase Young went 1-for-2; Caleb McCord went 3-for-4; Anderson went 2-for-5; and Cody Payne went 2-for-4 to lead Missouri.