Fleming walk-off single caps New Kent rally

With one away in the bottom of the seventh and final inning, York’s Falcons appeared headed for their second straight 1-0 softball victory over New Kent’s Lady Trojans. But timely hitting and heads-up base running combined with Falcon mistakes led to York’s undoing.

Tyler Fleming’s two-run walk-off single capped a stunning comeback, lifting New Kent to a 2-1 triumph and into a tie for first place at 11-3 in the Bay Rivers District standings.

Fleming’s game-winning hit sailed just over the outstretched glove of Falcon second baseman Amanda Lucker scoring Rachel Baldwin from third and pinch runner Dana Tompkins from second.

Tompkins slid across the plate just ahead of the throw to catcher Ashley Steele, touching off a wild celebration.

“I’m only 26 years old, but I think I had a heart attack,” a much relieved Lady Trojan coach, Betsey Lane, said after the April 26 thriller. “With her speed, I had Dana going if Tyler hit it.”

York got its lone run in the second after Stephanie Olson punched a one-out single just over the head of shortstop Maria Bates. New Kent pitcher Becca Mills struck Ashley Prosper with a pitch, and both runners moved into scoring position on Courtney Williamson’s sacrifice bunt.

Another hit batter loaded the bases for Sarah Grinnell who looped a single down the first base line beyond the reach of Fleming who charged over from her second base position. Olson scored on the play, but New Kent averted further damage as Mills got Mary O’Connor to bounce out to Fleming to end the frame.

The hosts remained handcuffed by Olson on the mound until the seventh when the Falcon hurler provided the key by walking Baldwin, the number eight hitter in New Kent’s order, with one away.

Chelsea Bedwell, batting ninth in the lineup, then jumped on an Olson pitch, bouncing a single between shortstop and third to put two aboard.

“Chelsea knows her pitch and she got it,” Lane said. “She’s a real competitor.”

Lane, meanwhile, brought in Tompkins to run for Bedwell at first as Fleming approached the plate.

“I saw Tyler standing on deck and as soon as we got two on base, I told her to switch to the other side where she’s got power,” Lane said.

Fleming, who usually bats left-handed for bunting or slapping hits over the infield, stepped in on the right side. But before she could swing, Olson uncorked a wild pitch high into the backstop, moving Baldwin and Tompkins up a base.

Fleming’s single landed in shallow right field. Baldwin scored easily and Tompkins slid behind Steele as the Falcon catcher was forced to leave the plate to field the throw home.

“We kept leaving runners on base, and the defense let us down in the second inning. They never should have scored,” Lane said. “But we never gave up, and the bottom of the order came through.”