New Kent Charles City Chronicle

News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | March 29, 2024

New Kent falls to Smithfield in softball, baseball

By Alan Chamberlain | March 31, 2015 11:01 pm

New Kent shortstop Paige Simpson chalks up the out at third base after a Smithfield runner got caught between third and home on a bunt.

Alan Chamberlain photos

Strong afternoon winds did not blow in New Kent’s favor either on the softball or baseball diamonds in Tuesday’s clash with Smithfield’s visiting Packers.

Although the Lady Trojan softball team made inroads against stellar Packer pitcher Sydney Gay, the effort fell short as the visitors escaped with a 9-6 win.

The Trojan baseball team, meanwhile, fared worse. The Packers dominated behind left-handed pitcher Jacob Ryan on the way to a 15-2 final.

The Lady Trojans touched Gay for seven hits, but could never move in front. The visitors used a three-run fourth inning to break a 4-4 deadlock and then held off New Kent’s last-ditch rally in the seventh.

“This was probably our best hitting game of the season so far against one of the toughest pitchers we’ve faced,” said Lady Trojan coach Nicole O’Bier.

And Gay received plenty of offensive help in the first inning, with an assist from wind blowing straight out from the plate toward left field. The Packers’ Hannah Rogers lofted a shot to left that on an ordinary day could have reached the warning track. Wind gusts, however, carried the ball over the fence for a two-run homer.

New Kent got one run back in the bottom of the frame. After leadoff batter Paige Simpson reached on an error, Payton Slater singled to the gap in right-center. A throwing error on the play enabled Simpson to race home.

Brittany LaPrade drew a walk to join Slater on the base paths with only one away. Gay, however, regained composure, striking out the next two batters to end the threat.

Smithfield upped its lead to 4-1 in the third, but again the Lady Trojans responded, this time with three runs to tie. All scored after two were out.

Slater walked and LaPrade singled. Stephanie Torrence followed with a high drive to right-center that the Packer outfielders lost in the sun. The ball fell for a single, scoring Slater. Madison Beasley then blasted a two-run double into the gap in right-center.

But Smithfield answered with a three-run fourth and two more scores in the sixth. Slater and LaPrade drove in New Kent’s final two runs in the seventh.

“This season may not be win after win after win like in seasons before,” O’Bier said after her team fell to 2-3.

“But they didn’t give up,” she added. “They play as a team and they have fun. You can’t beat that either.”

New Kent’s baseball team, meanwhile, fell into a 9-0 hole through 4½ innings. The Trojans scored twice in the fifth behind Trey Cox’s RBI single and a two-run triple to right-center off the bat of Tyler Jenkins. But despite stroking six hits and being handed seven walks, the hosts could not produce more runs.

Ryan loaded the bases on walks to start the Trojan fourth, but a sharp grounder hit back to the mound triggered a double play. A subsequent grounder ended the frame.

“If that ball goes through for a base hit, it scores two runs, we have two more on base, and the top of the order is coming up,” said Trojan coach Ronnie Cox. “But that’s why baseball is such a great game and it breaks your heart.”

Smithfield finished the contest with a six-run seventh. New Kent dropped to 1-4.

“The scores in our games have not been indicative of the way we played,” Cox said. “But we’ve been facing all these D-1 pitchers and you’ve got to play well.”

New Kent second baseman Steven Carpenter gloves the throw and turns to tag out Smithfield's Dillon Wright on a steal attempt at second base.

New Kent second baseman Steven Carpenter gloves the throw and turns to tag out Smithfield’s Dillon Wright on a steal attempt at second base.