ROCKINGHAM — A big cushion early in Wednesday’s junior varsity baseball game paved the way to a shutout win entering spring break.
The JV Raiders wrapped up their two-game series with Lee County High School, taking the latter meeting 9-0 in six innings (time limit).
A much different outing than Tuesday’s tie with the JV Yellow Jackets, Richmond piled on seven runs in the bottom of the third inning to secure the win.
Another strong starting pitching performance, this time by sophomore Jeremiah Ritter, held Lee County to just two hits. Ritter threw a complete game shutout and struck out seven batters in the process.
Facing four batters in the first, Ritter escaped a pair of innings unscathed with two runners on in the second and third. A 1-2-3 fourth was followed by two more innings of work leaving two runners on base.
Taking a 1-0 lead in the home half of the first, Ritter helped his cause with an RBI single to left field. Scoring from second was sophomore Sam Thompson, who reached earlier in the inning on a fielder’s choice.
Ten batters dug into the box for Richmond in the third, as the JV Raiders loaded the bases with no outs. Thompson (single), Ritter (hit-by-pitch) and sophomore Brooks Calhoun (walk) were on base for sophomore Jason Walker, who drew a free pass to score a run.
Next up was sophomore Riley Brown, who recorded both of his RBI on a double that nearly hit the wall in left field. Ritter and Calhoun scored to make it 4-0, and Walker and Brown moved into scoring position.
Still with no outs, freshman Hayden Wheeler walked to load the bases. A wild pitch scored Walker, which was followed by an RBI double from sophomore Conner Phifer to center.
Richmond’s final two runs of the inning came courtesy of an RBI groundout by sophomore Jabari Douglas and Phifer raced home on a wild pitch.
Leading 8-0 an inning later, Calhoun (fielder’s choice) capped the scoring when another wild pitch skipped to the backstop.
Ritter led the team with two hits (both singles), while Thompson had a single and Brown and Phifer each had a double. Brown’s two RBI were a game-high.
Douglas, Phifer, Ritter and Walker each recorded one RBI.
The JV Raiders (9-2-1, 7-1-1 Sandhills Athletic Conference) will return to action after spring break on Tuesday, April 18, at home against non-conference Freedom Christian Academy.
