New Kent dismantles Skyline in state quarterfinal softball contest

New Kent’s Abbie Kegley easily trots across home plate, adding another run to the Lady Trojan total.

Robb Johnson photo

New Kent’s Lady Trojans quest to another state title kicked off in dominating fashion in the Group 3A State quarterfinals on June 6.

Behind a one-hit shutout from Morgan Berg, New Kent’s Lady Trojans thrashed the visiting Skyline Lady Hawks 18-0, advancing to the state semifinals on June 9.

The hosting Lady Trojans went to work on the offensive end early. After pushing a run across on an error, Leah Rounds deep fly resulted in a bases-clearing double, giving the hosts a 4-0 lead at the end of the first inning.

After another run cross the plate in the third, Rounds stepped up to the plate, blasting a pitch over the left field wall for a three-run homer, upping New Kent’s lead to 8-0.

Meanwhile, Berg controlled the game from the mound. Along with allowing only one hit, she struck out seven batters. Meanwhile, New Kent pushed 10 additional runs across, resulting in the mercy rule victory for the home team.

After the contest, New Kent Lady Trojans Head Coach was excited about what she witnessed in the contest.

“I knew that this team could hit this way all season long and we strung things together every way you could think of,” she said. “Now, it’s every pitch one at a time and breaking it down inning by inning just by playing our game.

“Today gives us confidence, even though we are a young team,” Bates concluded.