New Kent Charles City Chronicle

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

Grafton pulls away late to prevent New Kent upset bid

By Alan Chamberlain | March 24, 2017 8:38 pm

Haley Cleaver avoids the tag by Grafton catcher Lauren Washburn and reaches for the plate to score New Kent's second run in the fourth inning.

Alan Chamberlain photo

After trailing the entire contest, New Kent’s Lady Trojans stood one run down to Grafton’s Clippers heading into the seventh and final frame of Friday’s softball contest. But by the time the hosts got their last shot at the visitors, Grafton had padded its lead with three more runs. The Clippers made the margin stand up for a 6-2 victory.

“We came out flat,” said Lady Trojan coach Maria Bates. “I don’t know if it was the four-game week or the game yesterday.”

The day before, the Lady Trojans sustained a 16-strikeout shutout at the hands of defending state champ Warhill.

“I think that got in their heads because their young,” Bates said. “But I’m proud of the way they came back and woke up the bats.”

Grafton jumped in front with a run in the first inning before adding a pair in the third. New Kent, meanwhile, could not solve the delivery of Grafton pitcher Kayley Cox who struck out six of the first nine batters she faced.

But in the home half of the fourth, New Kent’s Taylor Yates became the first Lady Trojan on base, drawing a walk. After Yates advanced to second on a wild pitch, Haley Cleaver stroked a solid single to left and sprinted to second as Yates took third. Lady Trojan pitcher Haley Hyndshaw then helped her own cause, looping a single down the left field line to drive in both baserunners.

Cox, however, settled down afterward, allowing just two Lady Trojans to reach base, one on an error and the other on a passed ball third strike, the rest of the way. The Clippers then scored in the seventh on a double and single, both for a RBI, along with a wild pitch.

“We managed to get the bats going in that one inning, but then it seems we have one inning on defense that puts us out of the game,” Bates said.

New Kent, now 1-5, collected its only two hits in the fourth. Cox went on to finish with 11 strikeouts.