Lady Trojans erupt early, coast to 8-0 win over Lafayette

Lady Trojan base runner Peyton Slater bolts toward third base, glancing back to spot Lafayette shortstop Brie Gillen in pursuit. Slater got caught in a rundown between second and third and eventually was tagged out.

Alan Chamberlain photo

After belting seven hits good for six runs over the first two innings, New Kent’s Lady Trojans shifted into cruise control the rest of the way en route to blanking Lafayette’s visiting Rams 8-0.

Lady Trojan pitcher Brittany LaPrade fired a two-hitter while striking out seven and walking two in going the distance. The Senior Day victory, highlighting the hosts’ final regular season softball contest, raised New Kent’s record to 10-7.

“I’m glad to have a good win on Senior Day,” said Lady Trojan coach Nicole O’Bier. “This was our last home game until the conference playoffs.”

The hosts left little doubt as to the outcome. Paige Simpson led off the New Kent first with a double down the left field line. LaPrade added a two-out single before Madison Beasley crushed a Julia Jones’ pitch, driving the ball into deep right field for a two-run triple. Stephanie Torrence singled between first and second, scoring Beasley for a 3-0 lead.

Emily Angle opened the Lady Trojan second with a high drive that bounced off the glove of right fielder DeeDee Veras. That error coupled with a throwing miscue enabled Angle to circle the bases.

Simpson then punched a one-out single to center and pulled up at third on Destiny Eberhard’s bouncing single up the middle. Simpson raced home on an error on a grounder off the bat of Peyton Slater. Beasley’s sacrifice fly to center drove in Eberhard for a 6-0 advantage.

Afterward, New Kent bats became relatively quiet until the fifth when LaPrade singled and Beasley walked. Both scored on a throwing error following an Abby Spangler grounder.

“We seem to turn it on and then turn it off,” O’Bier said, commenting on her team’s prowess at the plate. “I’m just glad they turned it on early.”