New Kent brings the bats, clubs 12 hits in 8-2 victory

Lady Trojan Annie Gray is congratulated by third base coach Nicole O'Bier after driving a triple to the fence in left for New Kent's first hit of the game.

Alan Chamberlain photo

Behind a 12-hit attack, New Kent’s Lady Trojans pounded Poquoson’s visiting Islanders into submission with an 8-2 softball victory Monday afternoon.

The hosts pushed across all of their runs in the first three innings, belting three hits in each of the frames.

“I’m very happy about that,” said Lady Trojan coach Nicole O’Bier concerning her team’s offensive fireworks and most hits in a single game so far this season.

“This was by far the best batting game we’ve had this year,” she said. “They’ve had it all along; they just had to show it.”

Peyton Slater, Haley Cleaver, and Annie Gray combined for eight hits and six RBI to lead the Lady Trojan onslaught.

Gray opened the batting exhibition in the home half of the first inning, stroking Poquoson pitcher Megan Hibbs’ first offering to the fence in left for a triple. Slater followed with a line drive single to center, scoring Gray. Slater later scored from second on a Cleaver single up the middle.

Ericka Richards’ single through the middle led off the New Kent second. An error and a walk loaded the bases for Slater who looped a two-run single into shallow right. An error scored another run before Cleaver poked a RBI single past third to open a 6-0 advantage.

Poquoson closed the gap with a two-run third inning, but the hosts got those runs back in the bottom of the frame. Richards led off with a single between third and short, scoring moments later on Amanda Harding’s double to center. Gray jumped on reliever Dee Rogerson’s first pitch for a single to left scoring courtesy runner Abby Spangler.

Harding, meanwhile, went the distance in the circle for the win, scattering nine hits while striking out five.

The victory avenged an early season loss at Poquoson and upped New Kent’s record to 5-13.