ROCKINGHAM – Cameron Carraway, a senior on the Richmond Senior High School baseball team, has been named the Official Richmond County Male Athlete of the Week.
One of 12 seniors on this year’s Raider squad, Carraway helped Richmond pick up two clutch Sandhills Athletic Conference wins over Purnell Swett High School last week. A dual threat on the mound and at the plate, a big night for Carraway in the series’ finale earned him his first Athlete of the Week recognition.
Athletic Profile
Age: 18
Birthday: Feb. 2, 2001
Year: Senior
Spring Sport: Baseball
Position: Pitcher/First Base
Years on Varsity: 3 Years
Height & Weight: 6-2, 207 pounds
Experience: 13 years
STRIKING OUT THE FACTS WITH CAMERON CARRAWAY
RSHS Academics: Set to graduate in June, Carraway is getting a jump start on his college career by taking a course at Richmond Community College, while also staying busy at Richmond. At RichmondCC, Carraway is taking Spanish 112 online.
On the high school campus, he’s in Honors American History II with Mrs. Mary McDonald, Weight Training with Coach Brad Denson, and serves as an intern for Denson to round out his day. Carraway explained that he helps prepare the baseball field for practice and washes uniforms during his intern block.
“Weight training is my favorite class this semester,” Carraway said. “It’s a unique group because most of the baseball team is in it. We’ve started a rivalry with fourth block, and challenge them that we’re stronger than them. Denson helps us with baseball stuff, and makes sure our shoulder muscles are ready for pitching.”
Carraway currently boasts a 4.4 GPA, is an A honor roll student, and has completed the Health Science cluster. He’s also a member to the “Bleacher Creatures,” a part of Richmond’s student section.
“We started it in my 10th grade year,” he noted. “It was mostly varsity baseball players, and now we always go to football and basketball games to be as loud and annoying as possible to the other teams.”
Future Plans: Carraway is one of four current Richmond baseball players committed to play college baseball after graduation. He signed his National Letter of Intent on Feb. 6 to join the Wingate University Bulldogs baseball program (Division II) as an infielder. Other signees were Alex Anderson, Tyler Bass and Garet Weigman.
Once on campus, Carraway hopes to major in exercise science and enroll in physical therapy school after graduation. He’ll join former Richmond teammate Myles Rohleder in the Bulldogs’ dugout.
“This season (at Richmond), I’m going to work on my pitch selection at the plate,” Carraway said. “I want to always knowing the situation and am looking forward to really enjoying my senior year with all of my friends.”
Athlete of the Week Stats: Last Thursday, Carraway made his second start of the season, facing a Purnell Swett team looking to redeem itself after being mercy-ruled two nights before. He managed to pick up the first win of his senior campaign, tossing six complete innings, and only gave up three hits and one run in Richmond’s 4-2 victory.
Carraway also added a team season-high eight strikeouts against the Rams. At the dish, he went 1-for-3, and recorded an RBI single in the bottom of the first to help give Richmond an early lead. Against Purnell Swett two nights before, a 14-0 rout, Carraway went 1-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Through five games this season, Carraway is tied with Jake Ransom for the team lead in RBIs with four, is batting .286 at the plate and is 1-1 with eight strikeouts on the hill.
Cameron Carraway pitching against E.A. Laney High School earlier this season.
RAPID FIRE – FAST RESPONSES
1) What is the most unique aspect of this year’s baseball team? What are some of your personal goals?
“We’ve all been playing together since we were nine,” Carraway said of the 12-player senior class. “All of us get along really well, we’re all friends and hang out a lot outside of baseball. Our chemistry on the field is really good.
“As a team, we want to try to win as many games as possible, win conference and the conference tournament,” he added. “Personally, I want to hit above .300, not lose again on the mound and limit my walks.”
2) What are you anticipating most about college and playing Division II baseball?
“School will be difficult with my major, but I’m not worried about it,” he shared. “I know I can balance it with baseball. I’m excited to get there and compete for a starting spot my freshman year.”
3) Name an interesting fact about yourself that many people don’t know about you.
“I have 25 pairs of tennis shoes,” Carraway said. “I just like to collect shoes. I don’t have a favorite pair, I wear them all the same.”
Coach’s Corner: Head coach Ricky Young, who has coached Carraway all three years he’s been on varsity, had a lot of good things to say about his No. 2 pitcher.
“Cameron did a really good job hitting his spots against Purnell Swett,” Young said. “He threw the ball well against Laney, but he left some balls over the plate. He was very aggressive with the strike zone and I was very happy with the way he pitched.
“He’s matured a lot,” Young said of Carraway’s progression. “He’s always had a lot of physical talent and he’s started to understand the mental side of baseball a lot better. The sky’s the limit — he’s a hard worker and a smart kid.”
