Home Local Sports JV Raiders edge Scotland, extend winning streak to 7 games

JV Raiders edge Scotland, extend winning streak to 7 games

Sophomore Ashton Phifer (right) fist bumps coach Corey Wallace during the first inning of Tuesday's win.
Kyle Pillar — Sports Editor.

LAURINBURG — Holding on late against rival Scotland High School, the junior varsity Raider baseball team extended its winning streak to seven games on Tuesday.

Thanks to the pitching efforts of freshman James Eason, who started the game and reentered to record the final out, the JV Raiders defeated Scotland 6-4.

It was the third meeting between the two teams this spring, all of which resulted in a Richmond win. Eason threw five innings to start, and allowed four earned runs on four hits.

To start the game, Eason’s first seven outs were all strikeouts, which is the total he finished with.

Freshman pitcher James Eason earned the win over Scotland on Tuesday. (Kyle Pillar)

The JV Raiders took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, starting with a leadoff double from Eason. He moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball while sophomore Ashton Phifer drew a walk.

A one-out single by freshman Damon Bryant and a walk to sophomore Jullian Cline loaded the bases. Freshman Zane Searcy recorded an RBI when he drew a walk to plate Phifer, and two batters later, Bryant raced home on another passed ball.

Scotland got a run back in the bottom of the first, but an RBI groundout to first base by freshman Isaac Hinshaw scored Phifer to extend Richmond’s lead to 4-1 in the top of the second. Phifer reached on a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error.

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In the top of the fifth, Phifer led off with a double to right field, and scored in the next at-bat when Hinshaw recorded an RBI single to center. 

One pitch later, Bryant unloaded for another Richmond double, this one to the left field gap, to score Hinshaw for an RBI.

Trailing 6-1 in the fifth, Scotland added two runs on a triple and another on a sacrifice fly to make it a two-run game.

Hinshaw pitched a scoreless sixth inning and got the first two outs in the seventh, and Phifer made an appearance on the mound before coach Corey Wallace went back to Eason to get the final out. 

Freshman Damon Bryant (15), who had a team-high three hits, crosses the plate in the first inning of Tuesday’s win. (Kyle Pillar)

Richmond collected seven hits in the win, including doubles from Bryant, Eason, Phifer and freshman Davis Faw. Bryant went 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and Hinshaw added a hit and two RBIs.

Phifer scored a team-high three runs while also adding two base on balls.

The JV Raiders (9-1) will close their season Friday at home against Scotland. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.



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Kyle Pillar is a 22-time North Carolina Press Association award-winning sports editor with The Richmond Observer. Follow the sports department on X @ROSports_ for the best in-depth coverage of Richmond County sports.