ROCKINGHAM — A few faces have changed, but the core group of players and the ultimate goal remains the same for the Richmond Senior High School softball team in 2019.
With opening day set for Thursday, the Lady Raiders are looking to kick-start their new campaign following a historic run a season ago.
In 2018, Richmond and now 13th-year head coach Wendy Wallace won its sixth-straight conference title, grabbed a Sandhills Athletic Conference tournament championship, and earned a No. 1 overall seed in the NCHSAA 4A state playoffs.
The Lady Raiders tallied a 24-5 overall record in 2018, and rolled past SAC opponents, going a perfect 14-0. Richmond knocked off eventual 4A state champion Jack Britt High School in all three games the two teams played last season, and led the conference in four major offensive categories (team batting average, hits, doubles and home runs).
Despite numerous other individual, team and conference accolades, the Lady Raiders saw their state championship hopes stunted against South Caldwell High School in the Western Regional Finals. That left some “unfinished business” on the table, and is something Wallace hopes to take care of this season.
After two weekends in a row of postponed scrimmages, the Lady Raiders managed to get two pre-season games in Monday. Richmond defeated Southern Alamance High School 5-0, and fell to host North Davidson High School 5-1.
“I’ve seen a lot of positives, and a lot of good energy,” Wallace said following Tuesday’s practice. “Getting on the field Monday definitely benefited us. We’re a little behind where we’d like to be (because of the weather), but it was nice to be able to hit off a live pitcher.
“Our main goal is to win a state championship,” she added. “It’s definitely an attainable goal, and we came up just short last year. The girls know that we have some unfinished business to take care of.”
In order to get there, Wallace explained the team’s expectations start by winning the SAC regular season and conference tournament titles. Over the past three seasons, Richmond has posted a 33-1 conference record, last falling to Scotland High School on April 12, 2016.
The Lady Raiders return a cast of veteran players, including three seniors who are all committed to play college softball. Seniors Savannah Lampley (shortstop, UNC-Wilmington), Taylor Parrish (first base, Pfeiffer University) and Greyson Way (pitcher, UNC-Greensboro) will look to cap their Richmond careers with the program’s first state title.
Richmond only lost three players to graduation from a season ago, with perhaps the biggest hole in the lineup to fill being current Florida SouthWestern College catcher Owen Bowers. A freshman for the Buccaneers, Bowers currently leads her team with six home runs, including two grand slams.
Also gone are former centerfielder Brianna Baysek and utility player Kenzie Webb. Baysek and Bowers batted .412 and .378, respectively, and combined for 67 of Richmond’s 298 total RBIs last season. Not returning for her junior season is former second baseman Jadyn Johnson, but even with them gone, Wallace is confident she has the right pieces in place to fill the void.
“We have some holes we need to fill with the three graduating players and Jadyn not coming back,” Wallace explained. “Right now, we’re looking for consistency on defense. Usually we come into the season knowing where everyone is going to play, but this year is a little different dynamic.”
“There are three freshmen on the team this year, and I’ve never had that many in one group,” she added. “They, along with two girls who have junior varsity experience, have to learn how to play with us and get comfortable at this level.”
Lampley and Way are among the seven returners this season, and will return after their best respective seasons to date. Both players were named to the All-State team, and were tabbed as “Player of the Year” and “Pitcher of the Year,” respectively. This season will mark both players’ fourth year at the varsity level.
As the team’s top hitter from a season ago, Lampley, a left-handed hitter, will look to build off of her .535 average and state-leading numbers in runs scored (56), stolen bases (36) and doubles (17). She’s also a defensive staple at shortstop.
Way emerged as the dominant pitcher Richmond needed after seeing the departure of former pitchers NaLee Jacobs and Mackenzie Ward. She pitched every inning a season ago, notching 24 wins and 252 strikeouts, both of which were bests in 4A play. Way also swatted eight home runs, and is one shy of tying the all-time team record set by Bowers (31).
Another returner this season is Parrish, who will make the move to first base this season after serving as the team’s flex hitter as a junior. She hit a timely grand slam against South Caldwell last season, which was Richmond’s 55th homer of the season, tying the all-time state record.
Other familiar faces around the diamond will be juniors Kayla Hawkins (catcher, Coker College commit) and Madison Jordan (outfield), and sophomores Payton Chappell (third base) and Paige Ransom (outfield). The rising junior varsity players are sophomore Kearston Bruce (infield) and junior Jasmine Ewing (outfield).
Wallace’s trio of freshmen are Kenleigh Frye (infield), Duke University softball commit Allyiah Swiney (utility) and Maylyn Wallace (outfield).
“Kearston, Kenleigh and Allyiah will rotate at second, but it’s really who hits the ball well who will fill in the open spots,” Wallace said. “I tell the girls if they can do it at the plate, then I’ll find a place for them to play. I’m looking for players who are consistent on defense and can hit .300 at the plate.
“We’re definitely going to miss Owen’s leadership, but I’m confident in Savannah and Greyson to pick it up,” she continued. “Greyson and Kayla have clicked really well even during scrimmages, so our pitcher and catcher look good. I like how every player gets older each season and gets the chance to step up and fill in.”
Last season, Ransom surprised everyone as a ninth grader by leading the team with 11 home runs, while also setting the freshman team record. Hawkins, who is moving from first base to catcher, wasn’t far behind with nine dingers herself.
When asked what it’s going to take to see her program eclipse the Western Regional Finals and bring home the coveted state title, Wallace explained it falls on the morphing of the team’s veteran and younger players.
“We use our success as a part of our tradition, it never graduates,” Wallace said. “Year in and year out, that’s our philosophy, and we expect to win. To make it to the regional finals every year, it’s hard to eclipse that, we just need to win the state title.
“Our veteran players continue to improve and keep putting out the production,” she added. “Our younger players have to step in and have a big year for us if we want to win it all. Paige was that player for us last year as freshman with her home runs.”
She noted that on nights when the top offensive players don’t produce, it will be a necessity for the underclassmen to knock in runs and play defense. Another mindset she doesn’t want her players to fall into is swinging for the fences every time, saying hitting for contact and letting it happen naturally is the best way to go.
The Lady Raiders’ quest for their first state title begins on Thursday at home at against non-conference Anson High School (7 p.m.). Other premiere non-conference matchups this season include at Marlboro Academy (March 25), home against West Stanly High School (April 4) and at the Beach Diamond Invitational at West Brunswick High School over Easter break (April 22-24).
“The fact that we have seven returners, we know we have the leadership in place,” Wallace concluded. “There is a lot of good team camaraderie, and that’s crucial for us, especially early in the season. We’re ready to get out there and be aggressive at the plate.”
