Younger Carpenter’s two-run, walk-off single propels New Kent past Smithfield 10-9

Steven Carpenter gets a lift from teammate Tyler Jenkins after stroking a two-run, bases-loaded, walk-off single to beat Smithfield.

Alan Chamberlain photos

Although they insist no sibling rivalry exists, brothers Michael and Steven Carpenter could be viewed as involved in a competition of sorts when the moment calls for game-winning heroics.

Two weeks ago, senior Michael Carpenter stroked a RBI walk-off single in the eighth inning to lift New Kent’s Trojans to a 6-5 baseball win over invading Lafayette. Today (Tuesday) with Smithfield’s Packers visiting, opportunity came knocking for younger brother Steven.

Trailing 9-8 in the bottom of the seventh and final frame, the host Trojans loaded the bases on walks. Steven Carpenter, a sophomore, then lined a single into deep left field, driving in two runs to put the exclamation point on a 10-9 Trojan victory.

“I was trying to put the ball in play hard and make the defense make a play,” Steven said shortly after becoming the center of a wild celebration with his teammates.

“I glad it found a hole,” he added, recalling the drive sail above the reach of Smithfield’s left fielder.

As for the hint of competition with his older brother, it’s not so, he claimed.

“We just want to get the job done,” he said.

Trojan coach Ronnie Cox, meanwhile, would just as soon see less of the flare for the dramatic in close games and enjoy a laugher for a change.

“This is giving me heart attacks. I’m aging before my time,” he said.

But a win is a win, and his Trojans are now 9-4. Today’s outcome got New Kent back on the winning track following last Friday’s loss at Tabb during which the Trojans managed only a single hit.

“That was our worst game,” Cox said, looking back at the Tabb loss. “I was worried coming into today that we’d lost our bats, but then we came out stroking.”

The Trojans erupted for four runs in the first inning behind Steven Carpenter’s leadoff double and a three-run double off the bat of Trey Cox. By the end of two frames, New Kent seemed firmly in control with a 6-1 advantage.

But the Packers nibbled away at the deficit, and heading into the New Kent half of the sixth the visitors owned a 9-6 lead. The hosts, however, regrouped in the sixth behind Michael Carpenter’s RBI triple to drive in Steven (single). Michael then raced home on Tyler Lambert’s fly to close the gap to 9-8.

The Trojans, meanwhile, got a lift from relief pitcher Chris Beshai who held the Packers in check in the top of the seventh.

“Chris came in and stopped the bleeding and gave us a chance to get back in it,” coach Cox said.

Walks to Beshai and Clay Simpson forced Smithfield’s coaching staff to insert Nick Baham on the mound in relief. The first batter Baham faced, Alex Stanley, laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved both runners into scoring position.

The next batter, Tyler Jenkins, worked his way to a 3-2 count before drawing a walk to load the bases. Steven Carpenter then jumped on Baham’s 1-1 fastball offering.

Cox had nothing but praise afterward for his shortstop.

“He’s a clutch little son of a gun,” the coach said. “He feeds off these moments. He’s relaxed and loosey-goosey up there at the plate and during games. That’s why I think he hits so well.”

Teammates rush to congratulate Chris Beshai who scored the tying run on Carpenter’s single.

Clay Simpson gets a hug from teammate Trey Cox after scoring the winning run on Carpenter’s single.

Trojan second baseman Tyler Lambert reaches to glove a high throw for a third inning force out on a Smithfield runner.