‘Well-rounded’ Trojans advance to Region 3A semis with 9-3 decision over Hopewell

New Kent's Mason Tate hustles back toward third base with Hopewell's Trent Scott in pursuit after being caught off the bag. Tate eluded the rundown, diving safely back to third.

Alan Chamberlain photos

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 a real positive,” New Kent coach Ronnie Cox said, reflecting on the 9-2 loss to Poquoson.

That comeback began in the first inning behind Trey Cox’s double to deep center field, driving in Michael Carpenter (fielder’s choice) for the game’s first run. Chris Beshai followed with a single past shortstop to score Cox for a 2-0 lead.

Clay Simpson worked to a 3-2 count leading off the Trojan second before drawing a walk and working his way to third. Steven Carpenter’s RBI single up the middle upped the advantage to 3-0.

Hopewell got a run back in the third, but the Trojans pushed across three more after loading the bases in the fourth. Michael Carpenter’s grounder drove in a run just before Tyler Lambert stroked a two-run single between shortstop and third.

Hopewell mounted a rally in the fifth behind Cameron Hill’s two-run triple to center with two away closing the gap to 6-3, but Trojan starter Michael Carpenter got Trent Scott to pop up in foul ground to third baseman Quentin Schaffer to end the threat.

The Trojans put the game out of reach in the top of the seventh after again loading the bases. Pinch hitter Mason Tate ripped a sharp, two-run single to left to highlight the frame. Simpson, meanwhile, scored the final run from third, sidestepping the diving tag attempt of catcher Travis Hogan at the plate following a wild pitch.

Michael Carpenter surrendered just four hits while striking out four in five innings of work. Lambert finished in relief, giving up two hits and fanning four.

“We played a good, well-rounded game and that’s what we wanted to do,” coach Cox said. “We wanted to come out getting hits [eight], running the bases, playing good defense, and having our pitchers throw strikes, and that’s what we did

New Kent third baseman Quentin Schaffer tags
Hopewell’s Travis Hogan on a pickoff attempt at third, but
Hogan beat the tag.

Trojan Clay Simpson sidesteps the diving tag attempt by Hopewell catcher Travis Hogan to score New Kent’s final run on a wild pitch.

Hopewell’s Cameron Hill dives back to first just ahead of the throw to New Kent first baseman Trey Cox.

The ball gets away from Hopewell third baseman Will Avery as New Kent’s Clay Simpson steals third.