LAURINBURG — The bats were alive and well for the junior varsity Renegade baseball team on the road at Scotland on Thursday.
A nine-hit effort paved the way to a 10-9 win in six innings (time limit).
Richmond held off a late surge from Scotland, stopping a four-run sixth inning before the Scots could tie it.
Sophomore Jabari Douglas had his best outing of the summer, both at the plate and on the mound.
Responsible for a pair of doubles and a team-high three RBIs, Douglas’ biggest contribution came in the bottom of the sixth from the bump.
Inheriting the bases loaded with no outs, and Richmond ahead 10-7, Douglas collected the save by recording the final three outs.
Douglas notched two strikeouts before a grounder to Riley Brown at third base ended the game.
Starting pitcher Jason Walker threw 4.0 innings and allowed one unearned run on no hits. He added five Ks to his line.
Richmond jumped out to a 4-0 in the top of the first. Thompson hit a base hit up the middle in the second at-bat of the game, scoring Brown (walk).
A pair of walks loaded the bases for Douglas, who slapped a two-RBI double over the left fielder’s head. Crossing home were Thompson and Brooks Calhoun (walk).
A sacrifice fly to right by Jason Gainey got him the first of his two RBIs, scoring Evan Hodges (walk).
Garret Mabe, who had two singles in the win, flashed the leather in the bottom of the first to start a double play. He made a diving catch to his right and doubled off a runner at second.
Conner Phifer led off the second with a triple and scored when Mabe dropped an RBI single to left.
An error and a passed ball resulted in Scotland’s first run of the game in the bottom of the third.
Thompson made it a 6-1 lead with his second RBI base knock, a liner to center. Brown, who doubled, scored.
With one out in the fifth, Douglas duplicated his first at-bat with a double to the left-field wall, plating Walker (single). Gainey followed with an RBI groundout to second.
Scotland started its late-game rally with four runs in the fifth. The JV Renegades answered with two more in the sixth.
Hayden Wheeler doubled to left with one out, bringing home Mabe (single). Richmond’s final run came on an RBI single by Preston Fann, finding the outfield grass in shallow left field.
The JV Renegades (4-1-1) pick up play next Tuesday away at Pinecrest. Game time is set for 4:30 p.m.
VIDEO INTERVIEW: Jabari Douglas, Sam Thompson and coach Ryan Mercer discuss Thursday’s win.
