NKYA 8U Team takes District 1 tournament; seeks supporters for state trip

New Kent Youth Association’s 8U All-Stars won the District 1 playoff bracket on June 29. The team will move on and participate in the Babe Ruth League of Virginia and the 8U Rookie Baseball state tournament on July 10 in Shenadoah. To help offset expenses, the team is asking fans, family, and friends to support their cause through a variety of ways. The team will hold a fundraiser at Third Base Grill on Monday, July 7, 6-9 p.m. with a portion of the proceeds to benefit the team. Supporters may also make an online donation at www.gofundme.com/avq5qw with all money…
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Buccaneers complete spring season with successful wins

Bay Rivers Buccaneers football and cheerleading fielded four teams and a cheer squad during its successful season. The Freshmen team (7-8 year olds) was coached by Wendell Christian and assisted by Sam Poole and Quincy Abercrombie. Players were Ellis Branch, Sam Lang, Khoen Christian, Ethan Bayens, John West, Brandon Nibbs, Landon Farries, Reese Poole, Jayden Abercrombie, Jackson Strickland, John Grinnan, Shane Brown, Taylor Bey and Jacob Schultz. Although the team went winless this season, the team mostly of first-year players improved every game. The Sophomore team (9-10 year olds) was coached by Jeri Thornton and assisted by David Knorr, David…
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Southside Storm baseball

New Kent ousts top-seeded Lafayette in conference baseball semifinal

A three-run, fifth inning explosion plus the pitching of Chris Beshai equaled a stunning 3-1 New Kent Trojan upset of Lafayette’s top-seeded Rams in the Conference 25 baseball tournament semifinals held at York. Today’s shocker propelled the fifth-seeded Trojans into tomorrow’s (Thursday) tournament final against the Park View-Poquoson winner. The contest is set for 7 p.m. at York. Today’s win also qualified New Kent, now 15-7, for the first round of next week’s region tourney. “We’re pretty happy right now,” said Trojan coach Ronnie Cox. “The kids did great. Chris pitched well and we played really good defense.” Beshai scattered…
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‘Well-rounded’ Trojans advance to Region 3A semis with 9-3 decision over Hopewell

Taking on Hopewell’s Conference 26 champion Blue Devils in today’s (Monday) Region 3A quarterfinal turned out to be the right prescription to cure New Kent’s baseball maladies, especially in light of the Trojans’ lackluster showing against Poquoson in last week’s Conference 25 title game. The Trojans scored in three of the first four innings on the way to toppling the host Blue Devils 9-3 and advancing into the tourney’s semifinal round. The Trojans (16-8) travel Wednesday to take on top-seeded Loudoun Valley, a 2-1 winner today over Culpeper. “We needed to come back and play better today, so that was…
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Minor, Burcham top runners at inaugural ‘Rock the River’

Holden Minor compiled a time of 18:20 in the men’s division and Jessica Burcham ran 20:28 in the women’s group to claim first place in the first annual Rock the River 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run sponsored by Proclaiming Grace Outreach at Rockahock Campground on May 3. Tony Morales’ time of 18:50 was good enough for a second place finish in the men’s division, with Gil Ploppert taking the bronze with a time of 19:04. Irene Bierie paced a time of 22:23 to take silver recognition for the women, with Jennifer Smethurst rounding out the top three with a time…
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McElroy maneuvers Panthers into state championships

Craig McElroy helped accumulate all 17 points for the Charles City Panthers en route to an 11th place finish at the Group 1A East Regional Championships on May 29 in Charles City. McElroy’s efforts earned him five bids into Group 1A State Championships at Radford University. The sophomore placed third in the 110 high hurdles (16.46) and high jump (5’10”), fourth in the 300 hurdles (42.58), and sixth in the long jump (20’7”). McElroy teamed with Kyle Jones, Jaquane Wyatt, and Mason Jefferson in the boys 4×100 meter relay to run a time of 46.10, good enough for sixth place…
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Panthers score 18 points at state, finish tied for 13th

Charles City Panthers accumulated 18 points, finishing in a tie for 13th place at the Group 1A State Track & Field Championships last Saturday at Radford University. Charles City rising junior Craig McElroy accumulated a majority of the points. McElroy ran career bests in the 110 meter hurdles (15.80) and 300 meter hurdles (41.64), finishing in third and fifth respectively. He also contributed to the scoring column with a sixth place finish in long jump (20’6”), and seven in the high jump (5’10”). McElroy anchored the boys 4×100 relay team consisting of Kyle Jones, Jaquane Wyatt, and Mason Jefferson. The…
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New Kent’s season ends with 13-5 loss at Loudoun Valley

Coming off of a win against Hopewell, New Kent’s Trojan baseball team looked for a win against Loudoun Valley’s Vikings to earn a berth in the state tournament. After the long drive to Purcellville in Northern Virginia, the Trojans failed to seize the opportunity, falling 13-5. Trojan starting pitcher Chris Beshai struck out two in the first inning, although an unearned run scored from defensive errors and miscues. New Kent bats flourished in the second, as back-to-back doubles by Beshai and Zach Ferrell followed by a hit by pitch for Tyler Robertson loaded the bases for Steven Carpenter. Carpenter hit…
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Lady Trojan softball season ends in conference semifinal

Over the final two innings, New Kent Lady Trojan hitters began to solve the delivery of Park View-South Hill pitcher Odicci Alexander. But despite getting runners into scoring position in each of the last two frames, the zero on the Lady Trojan side of the scoreboard could not be erased. The Lady Trojans absorbed a 2-0 shutout at the hands of the Lady Dragons, bringing their softball season to an abrupt close today at York in the semifinals of the Conference 25 tournament. New Kent finished with a 16-6 record. “If we had one more inning, it could have made…
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