New Kent bats go the extra base route to subdue York 10-2

New Kent baserunner Jacob Rivera reaches to grab the base and avoid overrunning second after an apparent steal as York shortstop Rayvon Patrick covers. The effort, however, did not matter since Jared Mitchell, the batter at the time, drew a walk, moving Rivera to second anyway.

Alan Chamberlain photo

New Kent’s Trojans spotted York’s visiting Falcons a one-run lead in the first inning of Friday’s baseball matchup. It didn’t last long.

Trojan batters declared open season on Falcon pitching the rest of the way, starting with a three-run surge on a pair of doubles in the bottom of the first. From there, the hosts cruised to a 10-2 victory, raising their season mark above the .500 level to 6-5.

“After they scored one, it was good to come right back and get three in the bottom of the first and then get another two in the second,” Trojan coach Michael Kuper said.

“We scored multiple runs in four different innings,” he added. “That’s going to do good things for you.”

Trojan leadoff hitter Jacob Rivera drew a walk to start the home half of the first. Shawn Cousins reached base on an error, putting two aboard for Mitchell Metheny who drove in Rivera with the first double. Mason Tate then doubled in Cousins before Riggs Ellis’ fielder’s choice scored Metheny for a 3-1 lead.

In the Trojan second, both Bryan Brooks and Rivera reached on errors. Moments later, both scored on Jared Mitchell’s double, pumping the advantage up to 5-1.

Moving to the fourth, Rivera led off with a single to center. Mitchell followed with a walk, and both runners moved up a base on Cousins’ sacrifice.

York pulled starting pitcher Joe O’Brien, inserting John Dye in relief. Dye walked Metheny to load the bases before retiring Tate on a pop-up. That brought up Ellis who unleashed a drive deep into the gap in right-center, clearing the sacks for an 8-1 lead.

The Trojans tacked on their final two runs in sixth. Mitchell tripled to the fence in right-center and scored on a throwing error on Tate’s grounder to short. Tate later crossed the plate on a wild pitch to open a 10-1 lead.

Trojan starting pitcher Aaron Wiggins (four innings) and reliever Nate Kagey (three innings) combined to limit York to six hits.

“Other than one or two hits, [York] was not able to put the ball in play with authority,” Kuper said.

“We’ve been hitting the ball well for the past few games,” he said. “That’s good for us, and we’re playing really well right now.”