Frye pitching, Carpenter hitting key New Kent’s 11-1 victory over Park View

New Kent's Steven Carpenter (11) accepts congratulations from happy teammates after clubbing a two-run homer in the second inning.

Alan Chamberlain photo

Blake Frye hurled a complete game while Steven Carpenter just missed hitting for the cycle to help propel New Kent’s host Trojans to an 11-1 baseball conquest of Park View-South Hill’s Dragons.

Frye scattered six hits while striking out four and walking only two in Thursday’s five-inning affair. Carpenter, meanwhile, belted a two-run homer to go along with a single and double. He walked in his only other plate appearance.

“Blake had a great outing,” said his coach, Michael Kuper. “With us having three games this week, his complete game takes a lot of pressure off our pitching staff. It saves our arms for Friday’s game with Tabb.”

Frye, meanwhile, got plenty of offensive support. Carpenter singled to lead off the Trojan first, Brennan Gray followed with a walk, and Mason Tate drove in Carpenter with a single to center. Christian Hamby walked to load the bases for Mitchell Metheny who delivered two more runs with a single past shortstop.

“We really got out of the gate strong,” said Kuper. “Then Carpenter’s home run started a big second inning.”

Carpenter’s shot cleared the fence in left-center, scoring Jared Mitchell who had reached base on an error. Frye aided his own cause with a sacrifice fly that scored Tate (walk). Hamby, aboard on an error, raced home on a throwing error following Frye’s fly ball to up the count to 7-0.

In the Trojan third, Gray singled in a run and Hamby doubled home another. Then in the fifth, Carpenter doubled and scored on Tate’s fielder’s choice before Frye singled home the final run to end the game.

“We had good at-bats and clutch hits,” Kuper said. “We made their pitcher work really hard and really played well in all aspects of the game.

“Our gloves came ready to play,” he said. “Our outfielders were running down balls in the gap. Then we put a lot of pressure on [Park View] with our sticks.”

New Kent is now 2-0, prompting Kuper to add, “We’re off to a real good start.”