ROCKINGHAM — A quick start by the Richmond Rattlers’ junior varsity baseball team was overshadowed by a strong finish from the Union Pines Vikings on Monday.
The Rattlers kicked off their final week of Central Carolina Scholastic Summer League play with a 10-5 loss at home in six innings (time limit). The win was the second by the Vikings in the three-game summer series.
Rising freshman Brycen Goodwin made the start for the Rattlers, and gave up seven runs on eight hits in five innings of work. He pitched three scoreless innings to start the game, but Union Pines plated five runs in the fourth to take a lead it wouldn’t surrender.
Replacing Goodwin on the hill was fellow rising freshman Ethan Locklear, and he allowed three runs on two hits in the final inning.
The Rattlers took an early lead in the bottom of the second inning, using a safety squeeze by rising freshman Shoan Hodges to score sophomore Dexter Mabe (hit-by-pitch). An inning later, freshman Emmanuel Gilliam led off with a single and raced home from first when sophomore Ahmad Shelton blasted a double to right field.
Following a walk to Ashton Phifer and an infield single by Chandler Orr, the Rattlers took a 3-0 lead when Shelton scored on a throwing error at shortstop.
Union Pines rallied to take a 5-3 lead in the top of the fourth, using four singles, a double and a Richmond error. Locklear started a 6-3 double play on a pop fly to short to stop the bleeding, and it was one of three double plays Richmond turned in the loss.
The Vikings added two runs in the fifth and three runs in the sixth, but the Rattlers wouldn’t go away quietly. With two outs and two on in the bottom of the sixth, rising freshman Ethan Clayton notched an RBI single to right field to score Phifer (HBP). Orr also scored on the play, coming in from second on the throw.
Richmond’s efforts would come up short, as the Rattlers stranded nine total bases runners. Orr led the team with two hits.
As the summer season winds down, the Rattlers will host the Scotland Sliders on Wednesday. First pitch for the final series opener is set for 4:30 p.m.
