New Kent Charles City Chronicle

News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | March 28, 2024

Miracle comeback by Park View eliminates New Kent softball

By Andre Jones | May 25, 2015 8:03 pm

New Kent's Abby Spangler dives back into first base safely, beating the tag of Park View's Hannah Bailey.

Andre' Jones photo

For four innings, New Kent’s Lady Trojans controlled a Conference 25 first round softball matchup against visiting Park View-South Hill’s Lady Dragons. But a miracle comeback by the guests resulted in a stunning upset, ending the hosts’ season.

Park View scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning and added one run in each of the sixth and seventh frames as the visiting Lady Dragons topped New Kent 6-5. The loss ended New Kent’s season at 11-9.

After opening the game with two scoreless innings, New Kent’s bats sprung to life. After the hosts loaded the bases, senior Brittany LaPrade connected a fastball pitch from Odicci Alexander, sending it over the left fielder’s head and driving in three runs to give the hosts an early lead. After forcing a three-and-out in the top of the fourth, Aris Thomas reached first on an error. An Emiley Angle single allowed her to reach base, with teammate Paige Simpson’s double down the left field line giving New Kent a 5-0 lead heading into the top of the fifth inning.

But trouble arose for the hosts, as Park View batters began to decipher LaPrade’s pitching technique. With two on base, Dragon batter Kirsten Bailey doubled to right field, bringing home Tiffany Gordon and Sydney Crafton. Alexander soon followed with a single of her own to add another run, and followed that up by crossing the plate thanks to a Camden Powers single, squeezing the gap to 5-4.

After New Kent batters went three and out in the bottom of the fifth, Park View’s Madison Tucker singled to left. However, an error by Simpson allowed her to advance to third. Two batters later, she would cross the plate to knot the game up at 5 apiece.

Seventh inning excitement trickled as Alexander once again reached base for the guests. After a stolen base and a sacrifice, she ended up on third with two outs. New Kent looked to force an out to end the inning, but a passed ball ensued, with Alexander bolting home to the plate and scoring what would eventually be the game winning run. New Kent failed to register a hit in the final frame, falling in defeat in devastating fashion.

After the game, head coach Nicole O’Bier commented about the inning that has plagued the Lady Trojans the most in the season.

“It’s something about that fifth inning,” said the disappointed head coach. “I guess their [Park View] timing caught up and they begin to get hits.

“I try to teach them that when we’re up , we can’t let the wall down,” O’Bier continued. “It’s tough to know you’re up by five, and then we made a few errors that hurt us in the end.”

All four of New Kent’s errors came in the last three innings, accounting for four unearned runs for the visitors. The Lady Trojans failed to place a runner on base in their last nine at bats.

While O’Bier will say goodbye to six seniors, she says the experience with this team has been one of her best memories as a coach.

“Regardless of our record, this is the best group I have had to coach,” she said. “Their personalities, attitude, love of the game, and passion in and out of the classroom has made this year one of the most enjoyable times as a coach.”