LAURINBURG — The junior varsity Richmond Renegade baseball team ended its summer season on a high note on Thursday.
Taking three of four games against Scotland in the final week, the JV Renegades earned a 7-3 victory in the six-inning season finale (time limit).
“We were able to execute things really well to end the season with a quality win,” coach Corey Wallace said. “The guys also made some great base running decisions to score some runs.”
Behind another strong start from Chase Woody, who earned his team-leading third win of the summer, the JV Renegades knocked nine hits and peppered the scoreboard with at least one run in four different innings.
Woody gave up six hits and three runs (two earned) in his three innings on the mound, while also collecting two strikeouts.
Elijah Shepard and Adan King both threw an inning of scoreless relief in the fourth and fifth frames, respectively. Shepard didn’t allow a hit and struck out one batter, while King allowed no runs on a hit.
Preston Fann gave the JV Renegades a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when he brought home Jake Veach (leadoff triple), reaching on an infield single to short.
After the JV Stripers tied it up in the bottom half, and the two teams traded scoreless second frames, Richmond opened its lead with three runs in the third.
Singles from Keith Cummings and Colton Brown to start the inning were followed by a King fielder’s choice and a base hit from Michael Osentowski to load the bases with one out.
Brown scored when Veach drew a free pass for the second run. A passed ball in the next at-bat to Jason Gainey allowed King to score and Gainey did a job with an RBI groundout to first to make it 4-1.
Scotland used three consecutive doubles to start the bottom of the third and cut its deficit to 4-3. But a caught stealing, a groundout and a fly out ended the threat.
Tristian Chavis kept his offensive production up, driving in the first of his game-high three RBI in the top of the fourth. He scored Hayden Wheeler (leadoff walk) on an RBI grounder to first to push the lead to two runs.
Providing two insurance runs late, Chavis doubled home two more RBI in the top of the sixth. Finding the gap in center, Chavis brought in Fann (walk) and Wheeler (single) for the final runs of the game.
Drew Gause led the team with two hits, including a double, Richmond’s only other extra-base hit. Recording one hit each were Veach, Fann, Wheeler, Chavis, Cummings, Brown and Osentowski.
Chavis’ three RBI were added to with one apiece from Veach, Gainey and Fann.
“We have built a lot of team chemistry over the summer,” Wallace closed. “And we as the coaches are excited to work on and implement some things in the fall to develop the physical and mental aspects of the game.”
The JV Renegades finished the season with a 6-5-2 overall record.
