ROCKINGHAM — An RBI base knock and some nifty base running by the Richmond Rattlers’ varsity baseball team proved to be the difference maker in Monday’s game.
Richmond hosted the Union Pines Vikings to kick off its final week of Central Carolina Scholastic Summer League play. In what turned out to be a low-scoring affair, the Rattlers manufactured enough runs down the stretch for a 3-1 victory.
Rising junior pitcher Michael Pettitt made the start for Richmond, as the right-hander allowed just one hit over three innings of work. Head coach Ricky Young used a committee of pitchers to secure the win, seeing rising junior Hunter Hancock and rising sophomore Cameron Way finish the final four innings.
Hancock relieved Pettitt at the start of the fourth inning, and surrendered the lone run of the night on no hits and five walks in 2.1 innings. Way closed the door on the Vikings, walking just one batter in the final 1.2 innings.
Pettitt threw just four pitches in the first inning, sitting Union Pines’ batters down in order. He also retired the side in order in the top of the third inning. With no outs and a runner on first in the top of the fourth, rising senior Dallas Cowick caught an infield pop and doubled off the runner to help Hancock’s efforts.
After three and a half innings of scoreless baseball, Richmond broke into the scoring column with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. A one out double by Way was followed by a walk from rising senior Luke Preslar. Way stole third base, and two at-bats later, rising sophomore Colin Wheeler brought Way home on an RBI single to left field.
Preslar advanced to third on the hit, and scored a couple of pitches later when Wheeler stole second. Union Pines’ catcher fired the ball to second base, allowing Preslar to beat the throw home.
A leadoff walk in the top of the fifth led to the Vikings’ lone run of the game, as two stolen bases by the runner, coupled with an errant throw, allowed him to score.
Richmond added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning thanks to a Dawson Bryant RBI fielder’s choice. The rising senior brought home rising junior Tony Gathings (hit-by-pitch) from third with a bouncing ball in the middle of the infield.
The two teams combined for just three hits in the game, with Wheeler and Way getting the two for Richmond.
The Rattlers improved to 6-4 this summer and will begin their final series Wednesday at home against the Scotland Sliders. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
