Covington County’s 8U Cal Ripken All-Stars jumped ahead of Roanoke and held on late in a 18-14 victory at the state tournament in Lincoln on Monday.

“They were doing what they were supposed to be doing,” CC 8U coach Ben Clark said.

With this victory, the local All-Stars advance to play this morning at 9, and is one of four teams left in the tournament. CC will play the winner of Westside of Mobile and Semmes.

If CC wins this morning, then it will play again tonight for the championship.

Covington County scored seven runs in the top of the first inning, but Roanoke bounced back to take a 11-7 lead going into the fourth inning.

County then went on to score 11 runs and held its opponent in the final two innings.

For CC, Grant Barnes went 3-for-4 with two runs; Ty Clark went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs; Trevin Garner went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs; Parker Adams went 2-for-4 with two runs.; Nathan Fowler went 1-for-3 with one run and two RBIs; Kaden Wiggins went 2-for-3 with two runs; Javen Poindexter went 1-for-3 with three runs; Lane Grantham went 1-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs; Ridge Wilson went 1-for-3 with one run; Taylor Sykes went 2-for-3 with one run; Noah Williams went 1-for-3; and Eli Guilford went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.

In other tournament action, Opp beat Lincoln 18-8, but fell 18-5 to Westside of Mobile to be eliminated from the tournament. The Bobcats’ first loss was to Childersburg in a 19-5 decision.

In its first game of the tournament, CC beat Alexander City, 11-6 on Sunday; and defeated Sylacauga 4-2 on Saturday.

All-Star girls finish runner up at sub-state

Covington County’s 8U Babe Ruth Softball All-Stars finished runner up in the sub-state tournament on Saturday at the Dwight Mikel Sports Complex.

CC defeated Andalusia 22-3 on Thursday; Tri-County 12-8 and Brewton 14-2 on Friday; and beat Tri-County 6-1 to start single elimination play on Saturday.

In the championship game, the local ladies lost to Brewton, 19-3.

Leading hitters for CC were Hailey Ward, Kadin Watson and Kayden Weaver for the tournament.

Ward led with a .882 batting average; Watson came in second with a .846 BA; and Kayden Weaver hit a .706.

In other sub-state action, Covington County’s 12U softball finished in first place.

The 8U team advances to play in the state tournament in Alexander City this weekend. Brackets for the state tournament haven’t been drawn up yet.