WADESBORO — Opening its season on the road at non-conference Anson High School, the Richmond junior varsity softball team saw its comeback attempts in the middle innings come up just short.
The JV Lady Raiders suffered a 10-5 loss in six innings, seeing the game called due to a time limit set for the varsity game.
Freshman pitcher Quston Leviner started in the circle for head coach Jordan Fortune, and gave up six runs in four innings of work. She added three strikeouts to her line and gave up six hits.
Having a big day at the plate for Richmond was freshman third baseman Sydney Smith, who went 3-for-3 in her high school debut. Smith belted two triples and smashed a two-run homer in the fifth inning, and recorded a team-high three runs batted in.
Also picking up the final inning of work from the circle, Smith allowed four runs in the fifth inning on three hits.
Anson took a one-run lead in the bottom half of the second inning, using a leadoff walk to score a run on a 4-3 fielder’s choice. An inning later, the JV Lady Bearcats tacked on two more runs on a throwing error.
Trailing 3-0 entering the top of the fourth inning, with Smith’s first triple serving as the team’s only hit, the Lady Raiders scratched out two runs to cut their deficit to one.
Leviner led off the frame by reaching second on a throwing error, and scored on the next at-bat when Smith delivered an RBI triple to the right-center gap. Following a walk to freshman Macy Steen, fellow freshman Ashton Alexander recorded an RBI bunt single to score Smith from third.
In Leviner’s final inning of work, Anson added three more runs to its lead. An RBI single scored a run, and was followed by a two-run inside-the-park home run.
Down 6-2, Richmond responded with two more runs in the top of the fifth. With one out, Leviner reached first safely on a fielder’s choice that saw sophomore Darice Martin tagged out at the plate following her leadoff double.
A wild pitch and a passed ball moved Leviner to third and Smith stepped in to deliver her homer, a shot to dead center. But for the second inning in a row, Richmond would strand runners at second and third.
Four runs by Anson broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth, and the Lady Raiders managed to add one more tally in the top of the sixth.
Sophomore Hayley McCormick, who drew a leadoff walk, scored when freshman Chaslie Holden grounded into a 1-3 fielder’s choice.
The JV Lady Raiders (0-1) will return to the diamond on Tuesday at Purnell Swett High School to begin Sandhills Athletic Conference play. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.
