Improbable New Kent comeback stuns Bruton 7-6 in extra innings

New Kent's Jada Evans and Bruton third baseman Kelsey Harrod look toward the umpire for the call. Evans safely stole third in the fourth inning.

Alan Chamberlain photo

For New Kent’s Lady Trojans, the situation in the last inning appeared as bleak as the afternoon’s gray, overcast skies — trailing by three runs with two away and down to their final strike.

Bruton’s visiting Panthers had pushed across four runs in the top of the eighth to break a 2-2 tie that forced Thursday’s softball contest into extra innings. The Lady Trojans got one run back in the bottom of the frame, but now with two out and a two-strike count on batter Ericka Richards, the hosts’ fate appeared to be sealed.

Bruton pitcher Kelsey Sluss delivered strike three to Richards, but the ball got past catcher Rachel Brotherton enabling Richards to race to first. From there, Bruton’s apparent victory slipped away.

The Lady Trojans capitalized on Abby Spangler’s two-run triple, more Bruton miscues, and Annie Gray’s game-winning, walk-off single to post an incredible 7-6 come-from-behind triumph.

Although down 6-2 heading into the home half of the eighth, Lady Trojan coach Nicole O’Bier never lost faith in her team’s ability to salvage a win.

“I was thinking I know they can do this,” she said. “It’s a mental game. You have to go up to the plate thinking you’re going to get a hit, and they went up there and did it.”

Emiley Angle doubled to start the New Kent eighth and scored on Jada Evans’ ground out. Richards reaching on the passed ball put two aboard for Spangler who tripled into deep right field. Spangler then scored the tying run on a wild pitch.

Paige Simpson followed with a sharp grounder through the legs of third baseman Kelsey Harrod. The ball rolled into the left field corner with Simpson pulling up at third. Gray then drove a Sluss pitch to deep center, driving in Simpson to end the game.

Amanda Harding started in the pitcher’s circle for the hosts. Taylor Yates recorded the win in relief. New Kent improved to 4-12.

“I’m proud of them,” O’Bier said. “I wish we had that intensity all the way through, but sometimes you need to give it that extra push.”