CAMBRIDGE — Nearly error-free defense, led by the “No Fly Zone” outfield of Tyrel “Teeter” Dean, Zayvion Brown and Nate Copper, and an outstanding pitching performance from freshman Jake Stumpf carried the Trojans to a satisfying 10-3 victory here on April 9.
Splitting the home-and-away series with Cambridge-South Dorchester, Kent County improved to 2-6 — matching its regular-season win total of last year.
“We did what we should have done the first time,” KCHS head coach Mike Iacona said, referencing the 9-8 loss to Cambridge on March 31.
Unlike the first game between the two Mid-Shore rivals, when the Trojans gave up five runs in the first half-inning, they never trailed in the rematch last week.
By the time Cambridge broke up Stumpf’s shutout in the last of the fourth inning, KCHS already had pushed six runs across the plate.
Stumpf [six strikeouts] threw just 72 pitches in the complete-game gem.
The Trojans scored one run in the first inning, and never trailed.
They pushed two runs across the plate in the third and fourth innings, another run in the fifth and put the game out of reach with a four-run sixth inning.
No. 8 batter Paul Roberts, one of three freshman starters in the Kent County lineup, singled to lead off the all-important sixth, followed by a walk to Brown.
Then the top of the order took over with consecutive base hits from Stumpf, Noah Iacona and Scottie Ford before there was an out. Roberts, Brown, Stumpf and Iacona would ultimately score to stretch the lead to 10-1. Stumpf and Iacona each drove in a run, and Ford plated a pair of runners.
With one away, designated hitter Colton Ford was hit by a pitch. He was left on base, however, when the next two Kent County batters were retired on a flyout to right field and a groundout, respectively.
The Vikings [1-6] got two of those runs back in the home half of the sixth — one run was unearned — to close to 10-3.
That score stood.
Stumpf reached safely in all five at-bats, going 3-for-3 with two walks, and scored four runs.
Iacona [2-for-5, two runs] and Scottie Ford [3-for-4] also had multiple hits.
Braden Wilson, Copper, Nate Sutton and Roberts each had a single.
With Stumpf on the hill, Scottie Ford moved behind the plate and Roberts played at third.
Wilson at first, Sutton at second and Noah Iacona at shortstop completed the starting infield.
While last week was spring break for Kent County Public Schools, KCHS’ athletes were in action.
The baseball team traveled twice — to Cambridge on April 9, and to Snow Hill two days before that.
The Trojans lost 9-3 at Snow Hill in a game that coach Iacona believed was closer than the score would suggest. He noted that Snow Hill scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to secure the win.
Senior Aiden Crouch, the only left-hander on the Trojans’ pitching staff, deserved a better fate. He gave up six runs in four innings, but only three runs were earned.
Crouch threw 98 pitches.
In two innings of relief, Stumpf threw 30 pitches.
NOTE: Kent County is home Thursday, April 16 when the seniors will be celebrated in a ceremony set for 3:45 p.m. The game should follow at about 4 p.m.
