New Kent advances to state semis with softball win

As the New Kent Trojans took the field for the top of the seventh inning in their Class 3 quarterfinal softball matchup with visiting Skyline Tuesday afternoon, the lively strains of that oh-so-familiar Queen classic “We Will Rock You” blared from the speakers atop the press box. 

It was no in-your-face statement by any means. It was simply an affirmation that Coach Maria Bates’ crew was rocking and rolling after a bit of a slow start, they’d achieved total control, and now they were just three outs away from their sixth consecutive trip to the state semifinals.

Then, when sophomore righthander Sierra Carter sealed the deal with a two-out strikeout with runners on first and third, the Trojans and their legion of faithful supporters celebrated not just their 7-3 victory but their opportunity to extend their season.

“The main goal is to win,” said senior centerfielder Mariah Leonard, a four-year starter and the Bay Rivers District player of the year. “But we’re all playing for each other and playing for God. I couldn’t ask for a better team to go out with.”

The game ended much more swimmingly for the Trojans (18-6) than it began.

Carleigh Baugher, Skyline’s leadoff hitter, opened the game by drilling a hanging screwball over the left field fence to serve notice that the Hawks (13-11) had come to play and were unfazed by New Kent’s history of excellence.

“We just reset,” Leonard said. “We’re a good hitting team. We had to take a deep breath after that and trust each other.  We had to keep our composure and keep playing for each other.”

Which the Trojans did, of course.

They evened the game in the bottom of the first when sophomore third baseman Ava Brandon stroked a single to left scoring Kenley Rowe, who had drawn a walk and advanced to third on Riley Waldron’s single.

Skyline (Front Royal) answered by adding two runs in the third to go up 3-1 when Kaitlynn King drilled a single to center scoring Baugher, who had singled, and Kinley Llewellyn, who reached on a fielder’s choice.

“We’ve been battle tested all year long,” said Bates, who replaced six starters from last year’s team that reached the state semifinals. “That’s how it’s been this season. They score some. We come back. 

“This team’s grown up really quick. We have to score runs to win anyway, so that (the 3-1 deficit) didn’t really shake us.”

The Trojans stung Skyline with four runs in the home half of the third.

Leonard, a Lenoir-Rhyne signee, led off with a single to center and moved to third when Rowe reached on an error. Rowe then stole second, and Waldron followed with a single, also to center, that scored both Leonard and Rowe.

Raegan McKeever entered as a courtesy runner for Waldron and scored when Brandon crushed a waist-high, right-down-the-middle fastball over the leftfield wall.

“Honestly, I was trying to battle it off a little bit because she had two (strikes) on me,” Brandon said. “Since she was up on me in the count, I knew I had to protect my teammates and get them in because the game was still tight.”

New Kent scored twice more in the fourth.

Once again, Leonard led off with a single, then moved to second on Rowe’s sacrifice bunt and to third on Kendall White’s sac fly to right.

Waldron’s double to left scored Leonard. Brandon followed with a double, also to left, that scored McKeever (Brandon’s courtesy runner).

“I had to get everybody home,” Brandon said. “I just took a deep breath and thank God for the opportunity I have right now. It’s just nice to help everyone else out.”

While the Trojans were pounding out 11 hits, five for extra bases, Carter, a sophomore righthander, held the Hawks at bay.

She threw 114 pitches, 69 for strikes, scattered nine hits, struck out five, walked one, and, in the final four innings, allowed only one runner to reach third base.

Baugher’s lead-off dinger got her attention, for sure, but she adjusted quickly and quickly found her rhythm.

“I’ve been playing for 13 years,” said Carter. “I understand that that’s part of the game. People are going to get good hits. You have to take a deep breath and pitch to the next batter.

“I have an amazing defense behind me. I could never ask for a better one.”

Next up for the Trojans is a return trip to the state semis at 10 a.m. Friday in Abingdon where they’ll face the home team Falcons, who defeated Rustburg 4-1 in their quarterfinal matchup.

Their goals are understood: win two more games.

“One at a time,” Bates said. “We’re thankful to be back.”