New Kent compiles shutout in quarterfinal baseball win over Hopewell

New Kent hurler Thomas Wilson commands the mound on his way to leading the Trojans to a shutout victory.

Robb Johnson photo

It’s been nearly two weeks since New Kent High School’s baseball team took the field. And after shaking off some first inning rust, the Trojans picked up where they left off at; with another win.

New Kent’s Trojans cruised to a 10-0 victory over the visiting Hopewell Blue Devils in the Group 3A Region A quarterfinals Tuesday afternoon.

Early on, the visiting Blue Devils rattled New Kent starting pitcher Thomas Wilson. After surrendering bases to Hopewell’s Demetrius Simms and Mason Cumbie, Wilson settled down, striking out the next two batters to escape the inning.

Meanwhile, the Trojan bats were literally in full swing. After a Joe Buchman walk, New Kent’s Brayden Heath line drive caromed off the glove of Cumbie, allowing Buchman to make his way all the way home to provide the hosts a 1-0 advantage after one inning of play.

And from there, New Kent put together an orchestra of runs. In the bottom of the second, Buchman’s two-RBI double piled onto the Trojans’ growing lead to 5-0. Five more runs over the next three innings of play were enough to force the mercy rule and allow New Kent to advance to the next round.

The Trojans are scheduled to take on the visiting Colonial Heights Colonials on June 2. The Trojans defeated Colonial Heights 11-1 in regular season play.