Rounds’ home run starts Lady Trojans rump of Smithfield as New Kent remains undefeated

New Kent’s Cassidy Branch locks in on a throw for an easy out to end the top of the second inning.

Robb Johnson photo

New Kent’s Lady Trojans looked to set the standard when it comes to returning to the top of the mountain in softball. A March 29 contest against a Smithfield Lady Packers team that defeated them last year not only allowed for a measure of revenge, but showed how improved the hosts are.

New Kent coasted to a 13-3 victory over the visiting Lady Packers, keeping their record unblemished on the year.

Scoring started early for the hosts, as Leah Rounds blasted a home run over the fence to bring home Mariah Leonard and Hannah Tober, giving New Kent a 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the second, Brooklyn Wiles triple allowed Liberty Britt and Sydney Eubank to trot across home plate upping the hosts lead to 5-0.

From there, the floodgates opened as another Rounds’ base-knock drove in two more runs. Hannah Perkins added a two-RBI base hit for the hosts. The Lady Trojans added three more runs in the bottom of the second before Smithfield could get off the diamond. And by the time the Lady Packers were able to return to the dugout, they found themselves down 12-0.

While New Kent did surrender their first runs of the season, they were able to win the game in walk-off fashion as Kendall White’s RBI single drove home Wiles, triggering the 10-run mercy rule and ending the contest in the bottom of the sixth.

After the contest, New Kent Lady Trojans Head Coach Maria Bates talked about the tone being set from the start of the game.

“The home run in the first set the tone and we jumped on them in the first and second inning,” she commented. “Along with our base-running and having a one-two punch in pitching, our depth has been really god for us so far this season.”

New Kent remains undefeated with a record of 5-0.