A WELL DESERVED SHOWER...is what Covington coach Mitch Hirsch received from his players after his team defeated Ansonia to secure a second straight CCC title.

May 12, 2008 – COVINGTON
When Covington coach Mitch Hirsch took over the baseball program six years ago, the game of baseball was a blip on the radar.

More attention from the locals was given to sports like football, basketball and even wrestling due to the tradition of success established in those sports.

But baseball is becoming more and more popular in Covington thanks to the recent success of a Buccaneer team that has won back-to-back conference titles.

"I know we didn't win any CCC titles in baseball until last year," said Hirsch after his team defeated Ansonia 13-2 in five innings to lock up a second straight championship. "Now we have two in a row."

It's been a long road for Hirsch in his quest to build a solid program, one he hopes garners the same respect as some of the other sports at Covington.

"We've been close a couple of times (winning the CCC) in the past few years, but we finally broke through last season," he said. "I don't know how many league titles Covington has in baseball before the CCC days, but I don't think its very many. It's sure isn't like football."

There have been some outstanding baseball players at Covington over the years, but you'd be hard pressed to find very many people who could tell you who they were.

That's because baseball has never been a sport the Covington locals follow, but it's beginning to change due to the continuing success over the past few years.

More and more people attend the games and some of those in attendance are younger kids who aspire to be like the high school kids they see hitting home runs, making diving catches or throwing 85 MPH fast balls.

Much of that is due to Hirsch's willingness to get involved with the younger kids.

"We're trying to becoming more visible at summer rec. games," said assistant coach Heath Francis. "Mitch wants us (the coaches) to be out there supporting the younger kids because it will only help the program down the road. We have kids playing rec. ball, so that helps too."

Hirsch also wants his players to get involved with the youngsters as well. He's even invited some of the younger kids to see his team play and after the game the Buccs signed baseballs for the kids.

But Hirsch realizes you can spend all the time in the world with young kids and fill the trophy case with conference championships, but it won't put your program on the map until you have tournament success.

The Buccs haven't had such success as they have been bounced early in the sectional tournament the past two years after putting together good regular seasons.

"This (winning the CCC title) won't mean a whole lot if we don't do well in the tournament," he said. "The kids know that - we've talked about it."

For Hirsch and his team to get over the hump, he knows his kids have to stay focused and take it one game at a time.

"Anybody can beat anybody on any given day - especially in baseball," Hirsch continued. "If the kids stay focused and continue to play they way they are capable of playing, we can beat anybody. We can go a long way in the tournament."

Which will only increase the interest in Covington baseball and hopefully establish a tradition some of the other sports enjoy.