ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond Senior High School junior varsity baseball team kept its hot start to the season going last week, winning all of its three games to improve to 4-0.
Head coach Ralph Butler’s team opened the season with a mercy-rule 10-0 win over Anson High School nearly two weeks ago. Last week, after some rain moved the schedule around, the JV Raiders defeated Union Pines High School once and Purnell Swett High School twice.
In the three wins, Richmond outscored its opponents 40-6.
Richmond opens SAC play with mercy-rule win over Purnell Swett
PEMBROKE — The JV Raiders opened the week at home with an 18-1 blasting over Purnell Swett to begin Sandhills Athletic Conference play. A pair of freshman pitchers were used in the win, with Harley Honeycutt starting and getting the win, and JD Lampley shutting the door for the Raiders.
Honeycutt and Lampley combined for 11 strikeouts in the game’s five innings.
At the plate, sophomore Tremel Jones went 2-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored. Freshman catcher Colin Wheeler, who has floated between varsity and junior varsity this spring, also went 2-for-2 with a double and two walks.
Also having solid days at the plate were sophomores Trevor Johnson and Tony Gathings. Both went 2-for-2 with Johnson knocking a double, and Gathings scoring two runs.
“Our pitching was outstanding,” Butler said. “It was a big win against a team we haven’t had a lot of success against the last couple of seasons.”
Raiders rout Union Pines in non-conference contest
CAMERON — A night after defeating Purnell Swett, Richmond rolled past the Union Pines Vikings 13-4. Freshman Cameron Way earned his first win of the season with a strong six-inning performance, with sophomore Hunter Hancock coming in as relief.
“Cameron was amazing,” Butler said. “We made some mistakes behind him early, but he kept his composure and got out of the first (inning) without too much damage. We were able to get a couple of runs in the top of the second, which settled everyone down.”
Wheeler led the way at the plate going 4-for-5 with three RBIs, and was aided by a 3-for-4 night by freshman Alston Johnson, who scored two runs. Jones and Gathings each went 2-for-2, combining for two walks and two more runs scored. Gathings also stole two bases.
“Union Pines is a program that continues to grow and get better,” Butler said. “They’re well-coached and this was a good test for us on the road. I was proud of the way we executed — we were aggressive on the bases and got some timely hits.”
Raiders complete sweep of Rams at home
ROCKINGHAM — To cap off the week at home Thursday, Richmond completed the regular-season sweep of Purnell Swett with a 9-1 victory.
Wheeler traded his normal spot of catching behind the plate for pitching, and went three innings before Michael Pettitt came in for three more. Lampley closed out the night in the seventh inning to ice the win.
“All three guys pitched well,” Butler commented. “We have a lot of guys who can throw, and we’re trying to get them all some work as much as possible while it’s early in the season. It’s worked out in our favor, and we are keeping their arms fresh.”
Lampley went 2-for-3 at the dish, adding a walk and a run scored. Hancock was also 2-for-3 and recorded a walk and an RBI.
“We were aggressive at the plate again, which is what I want,” Butler noted. “We’re keeping our strikeouts to a minimum, and when we get on base we put pressure on teams with our speed.”
Butler and the JV Raiders will be back in action and looking for win No. 5 at home against Pinecrest High School on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
