Baseball: Covington edges St. Paul’s, Curtis and St. Thomas Aquinas win big Friday

Area Prep Baseball Report for Saturday, April 2

Covington scored a run in the top of the seventh inning to win 8-7 at St. Paul’s in a 6-5A contest Friday night to split the two-game series, handing St. Paul’s its first league loss. St. Paul’s won at Covington 2-0 on Thursday.

Alex Cuevas broke a 7-7 tie with an RBI single in the top of the seventh inning and freshman Aidan Ryan nailed down the win with a scoreless frame in the bottom of the seventh and the Lions had a big win over their rival.

The game was a see-saw affair throughout.

St. Paul’s took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first before Covington scored twice in the top of the second to make it 2-1. The Lions evened the score with a run in the bottom of the second.

Covington scored two runs in the top of the third to take a 4-2 lead but St. Paul’s recaptured the lead at 5-4 with three runs in the fourth inning.

The Lions scored a run in the top of the fifth to make it 5-5 but St. Paul’s answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth to take a 6-5 lead.

Once again, Covington responded with two runs in the top of the sixth to grab a 7-6 lead but St. Paul’s tied it with a run in the bottom of the sixth, setting the state for the decisive seventh inning.

Ryan got the win, going 3 1/3 innings in relief, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits. Ryan walked two and struck out four.

Braden Farizo took the loss for the Wolves in relief. Brandon Coakley had a double and two RBI while Mason Estrada and Ben Fernandez each had a hit and an RBI for the Lions.

Drew Bode and Trent Caime each had two hits and an RBI while LSU commit Kade Anderson and Logan Pontiff each had a hit and an RBI for the Wolves.

Both teams return to district play Tuesday. Covington (14-9, 3-3) travels to Hammond at 5:30 p.m. while St. Paul’s (13-9, 5-1) will host Northshore at 5:30 p.m.

John Curtis Christian completed a two-game District 9-5A sweep of St. Augustine, blasting the Purple Knights 15-0 at Mike Miley Stadium Friday afternoon in a game.

Bishop State commit Josh Lopez did the job on the mound, picking up the win.

Syris McClinton had an RBI single in the first inning and he delivered the big blow in the bottom of the second, a grand slam to right field to break the game open.

John Curtis (12-9, 4-2) will host Archbishop Rummel Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at Mike Miley Stadium while St. Augustine (7-17, 0-6) will try to snap a seven-game losing streak when the Purple Knights face Karr Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Wesley Barrow Stadium.

In District 10-2A, St. Thomas Aquinas drilled Northlake Christian 20-1 in Covington.

The Falcons got a huge day from Gavin Foster, who had four hits and six RBI while Nicholls State commit Jordan Trapani had four hits, including a pair of doubles and five RBI.

St. Thomas Aquinas (17-7, 3-0) will host the Wolverines (10-11, 0-3) Tuesday at 6:30 in a rematch.

Area Prep Baseball Results from Friday, April 1

Covington 8, St. Paul’s 7

Doyle 9, Pope John Paul II 2

Fisher 16, Booker T. Washington (NO) 6

Haynes Academy 5, East Jefferson 1

Higgins 12, Grace King 7

Holy Cross 8, Archbishop Shaw 7

John Curtis Christian 15, St. Augustine 0

Lakeshore 12, Salmen 2

Slidell 3, Hammond 1

Springfield 9, French Settlement 4

St. Thomas Aquinas 20, Northlake Christian 1

White Castle 17, Donaldsonville 7