Northside edges Lady Trojans, brings New Kent season to an end in state semifinals

New Kent pinch-runner Sydney Eubank (right) steals second base successfully in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Robb Johnson photo

The request to repeat for a championship is always tough for a team. And for New Kent’s Lady Trojans, it came in a heartbreaking fashion.

An overturned call in the fourth inning proved to swing momentum as the Northside Lady Vikings edged New Kent 1-0, thus ending the repeat bid for the Lady Trojans.

Both teams played tit for tat for most of the game. But it was a fourth inning call that allowed Northside to earn the first run which would be the deciding factor in the game.

Northside’s Leila Aguilar popped a ball into foul territory. After New Kent snagged the ball, the umpires discussed the call and said the play was inconclusive because of where the ball was caught. Aguilar received another chance at the plate, notching a single instead of Northside having two outs.

With Aguilar on third base, Lady Viking teammate Abbie Caldwell connected with a sacrifice fly that was deep enough to drive her home and provide Northside with a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, New Kent’s Kennedy Ziglar reached first on a walk. Pinch-runner Sydney Eubank replaced Ziglar, advancing to third base and into scoring position. However, with two outs, Lady Trojan Hannah Perkins succumbed to a strike out, ending the game and season for New Kent.

After the contest, New Kent Lady Trojans Head Coach Maria Bates said while they are disappointed with the loss, she hopes the setback lights a fire under her team heading into next year.

“Most of our players are sophomores and came in last year as freshmen to win a state title,” she said. “The class that lost the year before felt that they had the internal fuel, and two girls felt the heartbreak from this.

“But with this adversity, it will build character,” Bates continued. “It will sting, but we are going to get back to work for next year.”

New Kent’s Lady Trojans finish the season with a 21-5 record.