Kuper’s coaching debut successful, New Kent topples York 4-1

New Kent second baseman Brennan Gray fires to first over ducking York runner Mark Evans after getting a first inning force out at second.

Alan Chamberlain photo

First-year New Kent baseball head coach Michael Kuper couldn’t have asked for a better way to launch his varsity career. Moving up from last year’s JV program, he watched Tuesday afternoon while his Trojans dismantled York’s visiting Falcons for a 4-1 victory in the season opener for both.

“Exciting,” Kuper said afterward while breaking into a wide grin. “It was just a solid all-around effort. Our pitching was solid, and clutch hitting came through when it needed to.”

Trojan shortstop and leadoff hitter Steven Carpenter opened the home half of the first inning in the best possible way, drilling the first offering from Falcon hurler Gabe Simmons into right-center for a double. He later scored on Christian Hamby’s sacrifice to put his team ahead to stay.

“Right off the bat, Carpenter drove the ball into the gap,” Kuper said. “We got that first run, got on top, and got some confidence.”

York, meanwhile, could not solve the delivery of Trojan starting pitcher Cameron Downer. Downer threw five innings of shutout ball, allowing just two hits while striking out five and walking only two on the way to the win.

“It was a great start by Downer,” Kuper said. “Then Mitchell [Metheny] came in and shut it down for us.”

Metheny ran into a few problems, giving up three hits and two walks that enabled the Falcons to get runners in scoring position in both the sixth and seventh frames. One run scored in the sixth.

“But he was able to stay calm and get out of it,” Kuper added.

A three-run third inning, meanwhile, proved crucial for the victors. Carpenter walked and Brennan Gray singled, putting two aboard for Hamby who doubled to left, scoring Carpenter. Blake Frye then followed with a two-run single to create a 4-0 advantage.

“That was a big, two-out hit by Frye to get those two RBI,” said Kuper. “That gave us a good cushion and lots of momentum in the game.”

For the contest, New Kent totaled six hits.