ROCKINGHAM — A productive week on the mound and at the plate has named Camron Seagraves, a sophomore baseball player, as the Official Richmond County Male Athlete of the Week presented by HWY 55.
In a two-game series with Lee County High School, Seagraves and the Richmond Raider baseball team split with the Yellow Jackets.
A two-year varsity starter, Seagraves earned a win on the mound and also produced a couple of runs at the plate, which helped him earn his first career recognition.
Athletic Profile
Age: 16
Birthday: Feb. 17, 2006
Year: Sophomore
Spring Sport: Baseball
Position: Pitcher/Outfield
Years on Varsity: 2 years
Experience: 12 years
“ON THE MOUND” WITH CAMRON SEAGRAVES
Rising to the occasion due to some injuries on the pitching staff, Seagraves has seen an increased responsibility starting on the mound the last two weeks.
In Monday’s 1-0 win over Lee County, Seagraves was a one-player show on the hill and at the plate to take the series opener. He tossed a complete game shutout, throwing just 82 pitches and allowing two hits.
Seagraves struck out five Yellow Jackets and retired Lee County in order in the third and fourth frames, and faced just four batters in the second and fifth innings.
The Richmond defense also helped him out by turning three double plays in the win, the last one being a game-ending play. Seagraves caught a bunt that was popped up to the mound and got the final out by throwing down to third base.
The Raiders’ lone run came on an RBI single to right field by Seagraves in the bottom of the third inning, scoring senior Matthew Walker (fielder’s choice).
In the series finale at Lee County on Friday, Richmond fell 8-4. Segraves was one of three players to record an RBI, drawing a bases-loaded walk in the top of the first inning to give Richmond an early lead.
Through 14 games this season, Seagraves is batting .278 with 10 hits (three extra-base hits) and 4 RBIs. On the mound, he’s collected two wins and thrown 23.0 innings, registering 21 strikeouts and a 1.22 ERA.
Richmond (9-5, 5-5 SAC) will host non-conference Lumberton High School (6-7) on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Sophomore Camron Seagraves fires home a pitch during his complete-game shutout win over Lee County on Monday. (Kyle Pillar/The Richmond Observer)
RAPID RESPONSES WITH CAMRON SEAGRAVES
ROSports: How have you been successful in a bigger role as a starting pitcher the last couple of weeks and what do you focus on during each outing?
Seagraves: “I’ve been really confident on the mound and I know we have to try and get as many wins as we can to make up the gaps being down some players. I’ve been trying to get better from last year and not allow as many walks.
“I really focus batter to batter when I’m pitching and try to get ahead in every count and dominate. My main goal is to get out of every inning as quickly as I can.”
ROSports: You were able to help the team on offense and defense this week, so how important is that to you knowing your responsibilities to the team?
Seagraves: “Both jobs are important. Whenever I’m pitching, I don’t let hitting get in my head. I just lock in on the mound. And when I’m not pitching, my job is to just try to contribute every way I can at the plate or on the bases.
“I’m really enjoying this season because I’ve had more games to play. And that means more opportunities to get better and make up for some of my mistakes.”
ROSports: How are you and the Raiders going to use this week and the spring break tournament to get better heading into the final stretch of conference play?
Seagraves: “We are practicing every day, and I know we’ll throw bullpens to keep our pitching up. And we’re hoping to get Walker (Lambeth) back in the swing of things to make the pitching staff better.
“The focus right now is being able to play situational baseball. We want to get bunts down and be able to move runners since we’ve left so many guys in scoring position.”
The Richmond Observer will publish two more Official Richmond County Athletes of the Week next week.
