Trojans ousted in Region Tourney

New Kent first baseman Trey Cox and Culpeper base runner Tyler Wilson look for the umpire’s call after Wilson dove back to first trying to elude a rundown. Cox tagged out Wilson.

Alan Chamberlain photo

Trailing Culpeper’s Blue Devils 5-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh and final frame, New Kent’s host Trojans mounted a comeback that brought the winning run to the plate with only one away. But the Blue Devils turned a double play, ousting the Trojans from the Group AA Region I baseball tournament by a 5-3 final and ending the hosts’ season at 17-6.

“We started stringing some hits together,” said Trojan coach Ronnie Cox, pointing to the last ditch comeback in the May 27 affair. “I thought we were going to have it and at least take it into extra innings.”

Trey Cox, Michael Carpenter, and Dylan Walton poked one-out singles to fill the bases. Dakota Oxendine followed with another single, driving in Cox and Carpenter to close the gap to 5-2.

Walton stole third and scored on Mason Downer’s slow roller that was bobbled at shortstop. The Trojans had runners at first and second, but Jake Countiss grounded into a game-ending double play.

Earlier, the Blue Devils, runners-up in the Battlefield District, had taken a 1-0 lead in the second and opened the 5-0 gap with a four-run sixth.

The Trojans finished 17-6 and as Bay Rivers’ co-champions, their most successful season since moving up to Group AA in 2001. They last entered region play while still in Group A in the nineties.

“We were picked to finish ninth by the Daily Press, and that made us play with a chip on our shoulder because we knew we were better,” Cox said.

“We came out and played great baseball,” he said, adding, “I’m going to miss my seven seniors. They were kind of like pioneers because they broke through that glass ceiling for us.”