New Kent clinches spot in Class 3A baseball championship behind bat of Uzzle, Sorrell’s pitching

New Kent’s Lane Boyette (15) slides head first into home plate to score an insurance run for the Trojans before Spotswood’s Casen Chandler can field the ball.

Robb Johnson photo

From the onset of the season, New Kent’s mission was to win a Class 3A State Championship. Now, they are one game away.

New Kent defeated the Spotswood Trailblazers 3-1 in the state semifinals matchup in Abingdon, setting up a championship contest against Turner Asby.

Spotswood started the scoring in the top of the second inning, as an RBI by Chasen Chandler provided the team their first and only lead of the contest. In the bottom of the third inning, an RBI double by Austin Uzzle tied the game at one apiece.

Uzzle’s hot bat continued in the bottom of the fifth, as his second hit drove in run number two for the Trojans to bestow a 2-1 lead. In the bottom of the sixth, New Kent’s baserunning skills took to the forefront as Jakub Bowen’s triple brought Lane Boyette home from first base to up the Trojans’ advantage to two (3-1).

Meanwhile, the pitching of Jonah Sorrell dominated the mound for the Trojans. Sorrell’s last pitch set up a ground out by the Trailblazers, allowing New Kent to clinch a spot in the championship game.

After the contest, New Kent Head Coach Trevor Ronan reminded his team to keep a level head as they moved on to the championship game.

“The job is not finished,” he said. “Jonah (Sorrell) threw a great game and (Austin) Uzzle smacked the ball today.

“I knew Jakub (Bowen) would come us big for us today,” Ronan continued, speaking about his gut feeling from his team’s performance. “As for tomorrow, we have a few guys that can get the job done.”