Baseball: New Kent 5 Smithfield 0 (Bay Rivers District quarterfinal)

Matt Metheny fired a two-hit shutout to propel New Kent’s Trojans into the semifinals of the Bay Rivers District baseball tournament with a 5-0 victory over Smithfield’s visiting Packers.

Monday’s outcome upped the district regular season co-champions’ record to 15-4.

The hosts got all the runs they needed in a three-run third inning that started with Dylan Walton’s single. Dakota Oxendine then doubled home Walton to put New Kent in front to stay. Mason Downer followed with a single to put two aboard for Nick Valentino who doubled off the fence in the left field corner to open a 3-0 advantage.

Oxendine, Downer, and Valentino all singled in the Trojan fifth to account for the final two runs. Metheny, meanwhile, struck out seven Packers while walking only two.

“My seniors — Matt, Dakota, Nick, and Mason — all had great games, and that’s what you expect from them,” said Trojan coach Ronnie Cox.

“This is tournament time and anything can happen,” he said. “You have to be aware that sometimes the best team doesn’t win.”