Rustburg edges New Kent 1-0 to capture Group 3A softball state championship

New Kent's Lady Trojans finish as the Group 3A state runners-up in softball after a competitive contest against the Rustburg Lady Red Devils.

Robb Johnson photos

Separated by two-and-a-half hours and a two-month time span, New Kent’s Lady Trojans faced off against the Rustburg Lady Red Devils for the second time in a state championship competition. In April, the Lady Red Devils played host in the Group 3A volleyball state championship and kept their undefeated record intact with a sweep of New Kent. Saturday afternoon’s softball matchup between the schools provided a classic affair between two of the top teams in the state.

But in the end, it was visiting Rustburg Lady Red Devils capitalizing with their only run of the game as they edged the hosting New Kent Lady Trojans 1-0 to capture the Group 3A softball state championship title.

The game featured two of the most prominent pitchers in the game with New Kent’s Gracie Ellis and Rustburg’s Eden Bigham commanding the mound. Even after a one-hour weather delay in the third, both pitchers continued to dominate the mound.

New Kent’s first opportunity to score came in the bottom of the third. After Kennedy Ziglar reached base on balls, Haley Baker was hit by a pitch that placed runners on first and second base. But Bigham forced pop outs on the next two Lady Trojan batters, while Ziglar was tagged off base to allow Rustburg to escape the inning.

Rustburg’s first opportunity to score arose in the top of the sixth inning. After Ellis struck out the first two batters, Lady Red Devil Katie Donald connected for a double. But a force out by the hosts provided an escape as the game remained scoreless heading into the top of the seventh inning.

The armor finally cracked in New Kent’s game plan in the final frame. After Rustburg’s Destiny Jones popped out to start the inning, a miscommunication between second baseman Kayleigh Carter and Addi Rowe allowed Lady Red Devil Destiny Ochs to reach base. Ochs was replaced by pinch runner Emily Coates, who stole second base easily. A few pitches later, Rustburg’s Maggie Mayhem blasted a ball into left field. What would have seemed like a routine catch ended up being bobbled by Norah Murray, allowing Coates to advance to third. Carly Hudnall’s base hit pushed Coates across the pentagon to bestow a 1-0 advantage to the visitors.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, New Kent had no answer for Bigham. Defense and additional strikeouts sealed the deal as Rustburg emerged on top, forcing the Lady Trojans to finish their 2021 campaign with a 15-2 record and as state runners-up.

After the contest, New Kent Lady Trojan Head Coach Maria Bates spoke about the heartbreaking defeat.

“This was one of the hardest losses I have ever had,” she commented. “It was in our grasp. It’s heartbreaking to get this far, but that is why you play the game, for the ups and the downs.”

But the disappointing outcome wasn’t all bad, as the head coach praised Ellis’ effort all season, including her 13-strikeout performance in the championship game.

“Gracie is phenomenal, and she is the best to ever wear a New Kent Uniform,” Bates commented. “She has changed this program and to have a 1-0 game with some of the errors, she was lights out. I could not be prouder of her and look forward to seeing her future success [at Randolph-Macon College].”

New Kent’s Jess Taggert snags a pop fly by the fence in the top of the seventh inning for the first out, keeping the game scoreless.

New Kent’s Gracie Ellis dominates the mound in her final appearance in a Lady Trojans uniform.