Prep roundup (Feb. 27): Covenant advances to national semis

DAYTON, Tenn. - Jessica Paris scored a team-high 14 points as the Covenant girls basketball team defeated Sweet Haven Academy 54-30 in the National Association of Christian Athletes tournament quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Hannah Dobernig added 10 points and seven rebounds, Rachel Phelps pulled down 15 rebounds, scored six points and had six steals and Haley Sheffield chipped in 10 rebounds and six assists for Covenant, which led 31-15 at halftime.

Covenant coach Ty Farris said he was pleased with his team’s sharp play. He was a little concerned about possible nerves and focus, especially since it had been snowing for two days and his team was excited about the novelty.

Any signs of complaceny were gone at the opening tip.

“I was very happy with the way the girls played,” Farris said. “There were a lot of distractions and we made it past them.”

Covenant (21-6) plays West Florida Christian of Sarasota in today’s semifinal at noon CST. Farris said he hasn’t seen any film of the team, but its 18-1 record speaks volumes.

Farris is hopeful that Chelsea McDill, who he called his team’s best defender, can play with a strained Achilles’ tendon. McDill played about two minutes against Sweet Haven.

Baseball

Mosley 8, Leon 5

TALLAHASSEE

Mosley scored three runs in each of the third and fifth innings and then Justin Hess closed the door with a perfectly pitched seventh inning as the Dolphins improved to 4-0 overall, 2-0 in District 2-5A.

Chad Pearson started and earned the win after giving up five runs on five hits with five strikeouts and two walks in six innings pitched. Hess struck out two in the seventh.

Seth Miller was 3 for 4 with an RBI, Jason Robbins 3 for 5 with two RBIs, Nick Hartzog 2 for 3 with three RBIs, Taye Larry 2 for 4 and Jacob Parker had a solo home run for the Dolphins, who host Tallahassee Lincoln on Tuesday.

Softball

Arnold 19, East Gadsden 4

PANAMA CITY BEACH

Allie LaGue was the winning pitcher with relief help from Michelle Ostrovsky as Arnold improved to 5-0, 2-0 in District 2-4A in a run-rule triumph. Monica Seal was 3 for 4 with 5 RBIs and a triple and Lura Edge and Maryann Kline each had two-run singles. LaGue and Ostrovsky combined on a two-hitter.

Arnold plays at Rickards 5 p.m. CST today.

Tennis

Lincoln 6-4, Rutherford 1-3

SPRINGFIELD

Nick Tran broke through with a win for Rutherford at No. 3 singles and Jaime Glass and Crystal Rivera triumphed for the Lady Rams and Glass and Cara Iacobellis won in doubles.

Rutherford hosts Bay March 4.

Results, Rutherford players listed first:

Boys

Singles — No. 1: Josh White def. by Grant Ruhl 8-1, No. 2: Mark Bintz def. by Mujstafa Ali 8-1, No. 3: Nick Tran def. Anthony Sirianni 9-8, No. 4: Neil Vijapura def. by Bobby Rittuage 8-2, No. 5: Matt Smith def. by Daniel Morton 8-0.

Doubles — No 1: White-Bintz def. by Ruhl-Ali 8-3, No. 2: Tran-Vijapura def. by Martin-Miller 8-3.

Girls

Singles — No. 1: Calie Rivera def. by Kayla Beers 8-0, No. 2: Cara Iacobellis def. by Joanna White 8-0, No. 3: Jaime Glass won by forfeit, No. 4: Kim Greenbush def. by Sera Gard 8-2, No. 5: Crystal Rivera def. Chelsea Kendal 8-3.

Doubles — No. 1: Rivera-Rivera def. by Beers-White 8-2, No. 2: Iacobellis-Glass def. Gard-Kendall 8-6.