New Kent blasts Lafayette, moves within game of first
New Kent second baseman Jake Countiss relays to first in a double play attempt after forcing out Lafayette’s Scott Blankinship.Alan Chamberlain photo
With a 14-1 conquest of Lafayette’s Rams, one of three teams tied atop the Bay Rivers District baseball standings, New Kent’s Trojans have moved within one game of the league leaders.
The Trojans unleashed an 11-hit attack, including five doubles, to back the three-hit pitching of Matt Metheny on the way to destroying the Rams in last Friday’s clash.
The decision dropped the Rams out of the first place tie with Warhill and York.
“We’ve really been trying to get the genie back in the bottle and make it clear we can play with these guys and play with anybody. Today we sent that message,” said New Kent coach Ronnie Cox.
“One of our goals is to finish on top when the season is over,” he said. “I’ve felt all along that we were going to be competitive.
“And I think being picked to finish ninth [by the Daily Press] was a good thing,” he added. “It’s put a chip on our shoulders.”
Michael Carpenter’s leadoff double in the Trojan first opened the door for the hosts. Carpenter scored on a Jake Countiss double, Countiss later crossed the plate, and the Trojans never looked back.
Three doubles (Mason Downer, Steven Carpenter, and Michael Carpenter again) sparked a nine-run second frame as the hosts sent 13 batters to the plate. Singles from Steven Carpenter (up for a second time in the frame) and Trey Cox along with four walks and three Ram errors also helped.
Lafayette managed its one run in the third, but the Trojans answered in the fourth with three more on Countiss’ two-run single and Nick Valentino’s RBI hit.
Metheny, meanwhile, struck out four and walked only one in going the five-inning distance.
“Eleven hits in four innings. That’s pretty awesome,” said Cox, whose team improved to 7-3 in the district and 8-3 overall.
“I knew we had the guys to make it happen,” he said. “We’ve just got to keep plugging along.”