Border battle rings in new prep baseball seas

There's nothing like a border battle in the Chattanooga area to get the blood flowing for the true area baseball fan. But when a Tennessee team with postseason plans opens up with a Georgia team with state championship aspirations it's special.

The Ooltewah and Gordon Lee baseball game in historic Chickamauga Monday afternoon had too many story lines to get in one column.

But consider six Ooltewah players and six Gordon Lee players have been teammates at one time or the other for the same Chattanooga Mustangs area summer baseball program.

Then take into account that Ooltewah has already had six players sign junior college scholarships.

And don't forget, Gordon Lee has had three sign Division I scholarships, two have signed junior college papers, one will be playing baseball on an academic scholarship and another senior is sure to sign.

As Church Lady "Enid Strict" on "Saturday Night Live" would say, "Now, that's extra special."

A couple of hitting stars for Ooltewah said the 7-5 victory over Gordon Lee is something to remember.

Senior slugger Tyler Covington touched three Gordon Lee pitchers, including two of his past teammates, for three homers.

Covington is one of the premier power hitters in the Chattanooga area. As a sophomore, the lefthander smashed 10 homers for Ringgold, and during a shortened season last spring hit six for the Tigers.

The three homer outing was the first of his career.

"I hit a fastball off of Dane (Anderson), a fastball off of (Will) Brooks and a fastball off of (Ryan) Ellis," Covington said. "The one I hit off of Ellis was the sweetest."

Covington said there was no way he wanted to walk off the field without the win.

Alex Napier started at Ridgeland for three years before transferring to Ooltewah this school year.

The senior outfielder was 3-for-4 with two doubles and a homer in collecting his fourth win over Gordon Lee in his career.

His throw from the outfield to the plate in the first inning finally ended the Trojans five-run outburst.

Napier said he wasn't surprised that Covington had a big day against some of their old teammates.

"Tee has worked hard and is seeing the baseball really well," Napier said. "He's a lot stronger and is comfortable at the plate."

Winning pitcher Brandon Elrod is another transfer who has boosted the Owls program this year.

He surrendered five first-inning runs and lived to throw a complete game.

"Tee's three homers were big and Napier had three huge hits," Elrod said. "I know they enjoyed beating them."

Elrod said the Ooltewah players had counted down the days until the game with Gordon Lee.

"I don’t know if Gordon Lee will lose another game the rest of the year," he said. "I was impressed besides them intentionally hitting Doc (Crowe)."

After Covington's third homer came in the seventh inning, Ellis threw behind Crowe on the first pitch and the next hit the batter in the helmet.

Gordon Lee Coach Greg Payne said the pitch was not intentional.

"I never saw the first pitch because I was charting," Payne said. "And I looked up about the time to see the next pitch hit him."

Payne said he was glad Crowe wasn't hurt and he hated it happened.

"I have never told a pitcher to hit anybody in the head," he said.

Payne said Covington's three homers were not the first time an opponent has hit three in one game against his Trojans.

Scott Guest had three homers against Gordon Lee last season for Ridgeland.

Ooltewah's Ryan Williams also hit a homer against some of his former teammates Monday.

If the first big match-up of the baseball season is any indication this is going to be a fun year.

McCallie travels to Gordon Lee today to face the Trojans.

Ooltewah is home against Grace at 6 pm.