Mathews too much as Lady Panthers fall in home finale

Charles City’s Lady Panthers dug themselves in an early double-digit hole, and couldn’t dig themselves out. Mathews’ visiting Lady Blue Devils pushed across 10 runs in the first frame before cruising to an 18-0 victory during Tuesday evening’s home softball finale. Mathews started early, batting around in the first inning, with Imani South accounting for five of the 10 RBIs. And while Mathews failed to score in the second, South’s single in the third drove in another run to up the visitor’s lead to 13-0. Charles City struggled to advance along the basepaths, as only six runners made it to…
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Lambert’s pitching, defense key New Kent win over Jamestown

Taking on Jamestown’s Eagles came as welcome relief for New Kent baseball coach Ronnie Cox, who in recent weeks has guided his team through a series of nail-biters. Cox’s host Trojans moved in front to stay with a three-run first inning and pulled away from there for a 10-0 triumph in five innings. Wednesday’s outcome upped New Kent’s record to 10-4. While the Trojan offense provided runs, the defense and pitcher Tyler Lambert kept the Eagles off the base paths. Lambert went the distance, scattering five hits. He notched just one strikeout but never issued a walk. “Tyler was really…
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Late goal propels Lady Trojans to 2-1 win over Packers

In a soccer clash that featured ample scoring opportunities for both teams plus a number of vicious tackles, New Kent’s Lady Trojans prevailed thanks to a late second half goal that averted overtime. Lady Trojan Megan Evans punched in a close range shot out of a crowd following a Kristen Taylor corner kick to break a 1-1 deadlock and lift the hosts to a 2-1 victory over Smithfield’s Packers. Wednesday night’s decision lifted New Kent to a 7-4 record. “We used a completely different setup from the front out tonight, and the girls stepped up and did a good job…
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Trojans stumble against Poquoson

Not in his wildest dreams did New Kent baseball coach Ronnie Cox envision his Trojans absorbing a 10-run slaughter rule loss to Poquoson’s visiting Islanders. Certainly not after the Trojans inflicted that kind of punishment on Jamestown’s Eagles just two days earlier. But, it happens. The Islanders took advantage of 11 walks issued by a trio of New Kent pitchers, not to mention 10 hits, in whipping the Trojans 13-3 in six innings Friday afternoon. “What a difference 48 hours makes,” said a disappointed Cox after watching his team fall to 10-5. “We walked a lot of guys,” he said….
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Trojan defense shines in first half before Rams take command

For most of the first half, New Kent’s defense rose to the challenge posed by Lafayette’s visiting Rams in Tuesday night’s soccer encounter. But a flurry of Ram goals just before halftime turned the match into a one-sided affair, ending in an 8-0 Lafayette win. The Rams scored four minutes into the contest, but encountered difficulty padding their lead. The visitors missed high or wide on six shots while Trojan keeper Richard Flournoy stopped another four. “We held them for the next 30 minutes or so,” said Trojan coach Clinton Leckie. “If we could play like we did in the…
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Early lead not enough, Smithfield rallies past Lady Trojans

Two unearned, first inning runs handed New Kent’s Lady Trojans a 2-0 lead over Smithfield’s visiting Packers. Unfortunately for the hosts, the margin failed to hold up. Smithfield pitcher Sydney Gay held the Lady Trojans in check the rest of the way in Tuesday’s softball clash, tossing a no-hitter while striking out 12. The Packers then tied the game in the third and pushed across the winning run in the seventh to escape with a 3-2 victory. In the New Kent first, Peyton Fleming drew a one-out walk off Gay. The next batter, Paige Simpson, put down a bunt in…
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4-H Golf Classic winners

Elder Carpenter’s walk-off RBI single stuns Lafayette, New Kent wins 6-5 in eight innings

New Kent’s Michael Carpenter didn’t take kindly to the decision by Lafayette’s baseball coaching staff to issue an intentional walk to his younger brother in order to get to him. And he would make them pay. With the game knotted 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth inning, the host Trojans had an opportunity to end today’s (Wednesday) affair after Ram relief pitcher Matt Keane missed inside on a 3-2 curve ball to walk leadoff hitter Clay Simpson. Simpson then stole second and stood in scoring position with no outs. Keane, however, struck out the next two batters, bringing Michael’s…
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New Kent holds off Grafton 10-9 in baseball thriller

Today’s (April 21) Grafton-New Kent baseball clash proves that no lead in high school baseball is safe, especially when two teams that rank among the best from the old Bay Rivers District get together. New Kent’s host Trojans used a six-run second inning to seemingly take command. But the visiting Clippers chipped away, pulling within two before a pair of Trojan runs in the fifth enabled the hosts to breathe easier with 10-6 advantage heading into the seventh and final frame. And even that comfort zone wasn’t enough — almost. The Clippers scored three times in the seventh and were…
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Misplay by Panthers in fourth leads to Middlesex victory

For three innings, Charles City’s Panthers and the invading Middlesex Chargers played a close contest, with the visitors holding a 1-0 lead heading into the fourth inning. But a crucial error by the hosts proved costly as the contest quickly turned into a rout. A dropped outfield fly with two outs in the top of the fourth trigged a 4-0 run for Middlesex as they went on to top the Panthers 12-0 in the April 22 Tidewater District contest. The game seemed relatively in hand for the Panthers, thanks to starting pitcher Shea Clancy superb command of the ball. In…
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