Covington High’s Lions eased past Northlake Gastroenterology (Northlake Christian School) 10-4 Wednesday in Northshore Summer League Baseball action behind Dexter Thompson’s complete game victory in a game played at NCS.

Thompson (2-0) battled and showed determination throwing 112 pitches, while scattering six hits overcoming the heat and the Northlake Gastroenterology bats. He gave up four runs (two earned). He struck out six, walked three and hit a batter. His earned run average is 0.86.

“I wanted to finish the game really bad. I never want to come out of a game. I’m just a competitor,” Thompson said.

Northlake Gastroenterology (NCS) base runner Chris Craighead tallies a run in the bottom of the sixth in Wednesday night’s game sliding in ahead of the throw being fielded by CHS catcher Jourdon Taylor as the umpire looks on. Covington High won the game 10-4. (Staff Photo by Mike Pervel)

“I was able to spot my fastball pretty good. I got a little tired and a little wild in the sixth inning, but I was able to come back and throw strikes. My teammates did a good job getting me runs. Pitching with a lead takes a lot off of your shoulders,” Thompson added.

The Lions pounded out 13 hits in support of Thompson, getting at least one hit in each inning, including three in the third and four in the seventh.

Tyler Nicholson led CHS at the plate, going 3-4 with a triple and two singles, driving in a run and scoring once.

CHS (4-5) picked up a run in the first off of Northlake starter Timmy Broussard (1-1). Bo Tedesco drew a leadoff walk and stole second. Following a strikeout, Tedesco advanced to third on a sacrifice fly by Payden Lynch and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Broussard walked Thompson and Riley Boudreaux (.333), who went 2-2 singled to right, but the next hitter popped out to end the inning.

CHS came up with a four-run third inning with Broussard struggling with his control. Blake Taylor and Lynch drew consecutive walks. Thompson (.276), who helped himself at the plate, going 2-3, singled to right driving in Taylor to make it 2-0. Trey Fortner came up with a big hit, producing a two-run double to center, scoring Lynch and Thompson.

Northlake Gastroenterology reliever Carter Fitzgerald replaced Broussard. Jourdon Taylor was safe on a bloop single to center and Fortner scored on Ben Williams’ fielder’s choice grounder for a 5-0 lead.

CHS’ Nicholson tripled in the fourth and scored on Tedesco’s ground out to short for a 6-0 margin.

Nicholson, who raised his average to .294, talked about his at bats.

“I’ve been in a slump for awhile, but I actually felt comfortable at the plate. I was seeing the fastball well and I was able to drive it. I was able to find the gaps,” Nicholson said.

“We played as a team and everybody put forth a good effort to get the job done.”

Northlake (3-3) finally responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Jared Duckworth beat out an infield single to third. Following a pop out, Chris Craighead singled. After a ground ball out, Josh Favaloro, 2-3 with three runs batted in, delivered a clutch two-out, two-run single to right, scoring Duckworth and Craighead to cut the lead to 6-2.

Covington High plated a run in the sixth. Williams singled and advanced to second on an error.

With two outs, Lynch (.321) beat out an infield single to score Williams.

It was Lynch’s seventh RBI of the summer, tying him for the team lead with Tedesco.

Duckworth replaced Fitzgerald on the mound and he got the next hitter on a fly ball out.

Showing a little life, Northlake pushed across two runs in the bottom of the sixth as Thompson battled location early in the inning.

Brandon Cazaubon was hit by a pitch, but Thompson came back to strike out the next hitter. Broussard walked and Craighead hit into a fielder’s choice grounder, forcing Cazaubon at third. Broussard and Craighead then pulled off a successful double steal.

The next batter struck out, but the ball bounced in the dirt getting away from the catcher with the runner making it to first and the runner at third scoring. Favaloro then connected for a single to center scoring Craighead to cut the lead to 7-4.

CHS closed out the scoring with three runs in the seventh on four hits.

Boudreaux and Fortner produced back-to-back singles.

With one out, Williams walked to load the bases. Nicholson stroked an RBI single to center, scoring courtesy runner Dalton McClain. Tedesco also came through with one RBI.

Northlake’s Josh Vasalech opened the seventh with an infield single, but Thompson took care of business getting the next three hitters in order, including a strikeout to close out the game.