Early run stands up, Lady Trojans blank York 1-0

New Kent catcher Stephanie Torrence gloves a foul ball at the backstop off the bat of York’s Hayley Winfree for a first inning out as teammates Madison Beasley and Marisa Bush (6) rush to assist.

Alan Chamberlain photos

Stephanie Torrence singled to right field in the second inning to drive in Emily Angle, staking New Kent’s Lady Trojans to a 1-0 lead over York. Then the hosts’ defense and pitcher Marisa Bush took over, keeping the Falcons off the scoreboard.

Monday’s 1-0 victory upped New Kent’s record to 2-0 against Bay Rivers District softball competition.

Maybe the day’s frigid temperatures played a part, or perhaps York pitcher Maddi Capps has something to do with it, but the Lady Trojans mustered just three hits for the game. Torrence’s single became base knock number two and occurred after Angle had drawn a one-out walk. Angle took second on Madison Beasley’s sacrifice bunt, easily scoring on Torrence’s drive to right.

“We can definitely do better than [three hits],” Lady Trojan coach Nicole O’Bier said afterward. “Anyone I put up there has the ability to hit. I guess they just weren’t on today.”

No matter. O’Bier had Bush on the mound and a solid defense to offset lack of prowess at the plate. But first, Bush had to pitch out of a bases loaded jam in the top half of the second.

The Falcons’ Maddie Rogerson led off with a single past shortstop. Hayley Hartz then lined a one-out single to left before Capps walked to fill the sacks.

Bush, however, got Carly Breen to bounce back to the pitcher’s circle. Bush fired to the plate for a force out on Rogerson, and Torrence relayed to Angle at first in time to complete an inning-ending double play.

Bush scattered three hits the rest of the way, finishing with five strikeouts while issuing only one walk.

“Marisa was a little shaky at the start, but then she got into her groove,” said O’Bier.

“Defensively, I feel like we’re just as strong if not stronger than last year,” she said.

The Lady Trojans have four new starters in the lineup with Torrence taking over behind the plate and Angle at first while Paige Simpson has stepped in at shortstop and Alura Evans is occupying left field. Also, there are three new faces in reserve roles.

But O’Bier insists all are “doing great,” and adds, “I can make all kinds of changes in the field and we’ll still be just as strong.”

Lady Trojan third baseman Madison Beasley fields a third inning grounder.