ROCKINGHAM – The Sandhills Athletic Conference announced its 2018 All-SAC team Monday, and just like they dominated their conference opponents during the regular season, the Richmond Lady Raiders headlined the 23-player team with a conference-best five selections.
In their final season, seniors Brianna Baysek and Owen Bowers were selected to the team, capping off a noteworthy career for both players. Joining them were juniors Savannah Lampley and Greyson Way, and freshman breakout player Paige Ransom.
Bowers and Lampley were named to the all-conference team for the third straight year, with Lampley making the squad every year of her career. Baysek and Way were selected for the second time in their career, both coming in the past two seasons. Ransom earned her first selection following her first year at the varsity level.
Not only did Way make the All-SAC roster, but the junior ace was also recognized as the SAC’s “Player of the Year” following her impressive year from the circle. The Lady Raiders tallied a 24-5 overall record in 2018, and swept conference competition (14-0) in the inaugural season of the SAC. Richmond won its sixth straight conference title, and bounced back to win its second conference tournament championship in three years.
Among their many historic and record-breaking accolades from this past season, the five Lady Raiders heavily contributed to breaking school records in runs scored in a game (34), RBIs in a game (28), most players to score multiple runs in a game (9), as well as tying the NCHSAA state record for the most home runs hit in a single season (55).
“These were five players who led our team in different (offensive) categories,” 12th-year head coach Wendy Wallace said. “All of them were consistent throughout the year, and gave us a lot of run support, which was a big thing for us.
“Greyson, Owen, Savannah and Bri have been named all-conference before,” she continued. “And Paige had a stellar freshman year — I didn’t expect her to lead the conference in home runs, but I’m glad she did. All of them we able to contribute night in and night out, and I’m proud of them.”
Brianna Baysek, senior center fielder
A staple in center field, Baysek played in all 29 of Richmond’s games and batted in the clean up spot for a power-hitting Lady Raiders lineup. She was one of five Lady Raiders to finish the season batting over the .400 mark, as she finished with a .412 average, which was significantly higher than her .273 average in 2017.
Baysek slapped 42 total hits in her senior campaign, which was good enough for third-best on the team. She was also third on the team in doubles (10) and hit seven home runs, which was fifth-best on the team. Baysek was named the Official Richmond County Female Athlete of the Week on April 10, following her stellar performance at the Beach Diamond Invitational, where she delivered the game-winning RBI double to defeat Whiteville High School in the opening game.
“It means a lot to make the all-conference team and go out with a bang,” Baysek said, who will be attending UNCW in the fall. “I think the thing that made me most successful was our determination as a team to go as far as we could.
“My favorite moment of the season was probably winning the second game against Jack Britt (High School) in extra innings with a walkoff home run,” she recalled about the 10-8 win in 10 innings. “It was probably one of the most hype games of the season.”
Owen Bowers, senior catcher
A four-year starter, Bowers concludes her career with her third-straight All-SAC selection. After struggling to see the ball at the plate at the beginning of the season, Bowers got hot down the home stretch of the regular season, and stayed hot throughout the SAC tournament and NCHSAA state playoffs. Over a four-game span starting with the SAC championship, Bowers blasted six homers, including two two-homer games in the playoffs.
Her late season surge gave her 10 home runs on the season, which was second best on the team, and tied for second in the SAC and tied for fourth in 4A. Bowers finishes her career as Richmond’s all-time home run hitter with 31 longballs, one ahead of Way. She batted .378 in her final season and knocked in 35 RBIs on 31 hits, 19 of which were for extra bases (10 homers, eight doubles and one triple).
“It feels amazing to end my career with three All-SAC selections,” Bowers commented. “Coming into high school, my expectations were high, but I could’ve never have dreamt this up. I was blessed to be a part of such an amazing program, and my expectations for the future are higher.
“The turning point in my season was simply getting out of my head,” the Florida SouthWestern State College commit continued. “I began to swing freely and competitively every time trying to hit the ball hard. My favorite memory from the last four years was beating Scotland on my senior night or in the second round of the playoffs my freshman year. Every bus ride, game and practice was enjoyable. I’m truly going to miss it.”
Savannah Lampley, junior shortstop
As the only of the five Richmond players to make the all-conference team every year of her career (to date), Lampley served as the Lady Raiders’ leadoff batter — a job in which she excelled. She was Richmond’s best average hitter, maintaining a .535 batting average over the course of the 29-game season, and carried a 21-game hitting streak for the majority of the season.
Using her speed, bunting ability and strong left-handed bat, Lampley also led Richmond in on-base percentage (.629). Perhaps most impressive, Lampley led all 4A players in three offensive categories: runs scored (56), stolen bases (36) and doubles (17). Her runs scored were nine better than South Central High School’s Madison Deanes, and she bested R.J. Reynolds High School’s Timmya Williams by two stolen bases. With doubles, she had one more than Enloe High School’s Breauna Frye. Lampley also flashed her power at the plate, hitting four home runs, two of which were game-winners. She walked off with a two-run bomb in the 10th inning against Jack Britt on March 23.
“It’s been an honor being named all-conference all three years of my softball career at Richmond,” Lampley said. “I feel like I’ve been able to achieve this through hard work in the offseason. I’ve spent countless hours in the cage and gym during my offseason.
“Even though I feel we (Richmond) had more players worthy of being selected this year, I think my selection shows that a lot of my teammates will have a chance next year if we all keep working hard,” added the UNCW softball commit.
Paige Ransom, freshman right fielder
One of only two freshmen to make the 2018 All-SAC team, Ransom exploded onto the scene after battling for a starting role in the outfield during the first few weeks of the season. Having not hit many home runs as an eighth grader at Rockingham Middle School, Ransom dug in and smacked an SAC-best 11 dingers in 28 games.
Not only did she lead the conference, but she broke Richmond’s freshman home run record of seven, which was previously set by Way in 2016. She was two home runs off the mark for the most in the state, as South Central’s Cameron Davis hit 13. Batting in the seven spot, Ransom delivered all season from the bottom of the lineup. She led the SAC in slugging percentage (1.013), which was also good enough for seventh overall in 4A play. On the season, Ransom batted a team second-best .473, with 35 hits and the second most RBIs (38).
“I’m very surprised that I made this big accomplishment,” Ransom said. “And I never expected this, let alone during my freshman season. I’m very proud of all the girls making it this year.
“I didn’t maintain a home run swing — I just tried to put the ball in play, whether it was a single or a grand slam,” she continued. “I had a lot of help keeping up with my hitting from my coaches and my Uncle Rob (Ransom), who’s my hitting coach. Leading the team in homers is mind-blowing. I hope that I continue to hit good next season as well.”
Greyson Way, junior pitcher and POY
In her first full season tasked with Richmond’s pitching responsibilities, Way pitched every single inning that the Lady Raiders were in the field. Tossing 177.1 innings, Way won 24 games while throwing four no-hitters, the most impressive being a full-game shutout of Hickory Ridge High School in the fourth round of the state playoffs. The other three no-nos were mercy rule wins (two against Pinecrest High School; one against Seventy-First High School).
Way also ranked No. 1 in 4A in strikeouts, canning a total of 252 batters over 29 games. Of the 730 total batters she faced, she struck out roughly 35 percent of her opponents, and held the others to a .180 batting average. On top of her no-hitters, she also threw eight total shutouts.
At the dish, Way picked up where she left off as a sophomore, batting .443 (third-best on the team) and plated a team-high 41 RBIs (led the team for the second season in a row) on 43 hits. She slapped 12 doubles and eight longballs, bringing her career total to 30 dingers.
“It means a lot to me to see that my hard work is paying off and that I’m able to do all that I can to help my team be successful,” Way said. “Being Player of the Year was not something that I thought about before or during the season.
“It’s an honor to be selected (as POY),” the future UNCG Lady Spartan continued. “We have some strong players in our conference, but I couldn’t have done it without my teammates behind me through it all. These two honors don’t change my approach in any way. In my opinion, we have the best defense in the state, and I just put the work in every day and focused on doing my part to the best of my ability.”
Jack Britt’s Sebrina Wilson was recognized as the SAC’s “Coach of the Year.” Earlier this week, the Lady Buccaneers won the NCHSAA 4A state championship, defeating South Caldwell High School by winning two games of the three-game series. In the regular season, Jack Britt finished second in the conference standings, going 10-4 against SAC opponents. Richmond swept the Lady Bucs, winning all three of its games against them this season.
Below is a complete listing of the 2018 All-SAC team:
Coach of the Year: Sebrina Wilson (Jack Britt)
Player of the Year: Greyson Way (Richmond)
Richmond (5): Brianna Baysek (senior outfielder), Owen Bowers (senior catcher), Savannah Lampley (junior shortstop), Paige Ransom (freshman outfielder) and Greyson Way (junior pitcher).
Jack Britt (4): Kassady Hardee (senior infielder), Carlie Myrtle (freshman pitcher), Savannah Roddy (senior infielder) and Rayven Shepard (senior infielder).
Lumberton (4): Madison Canady (junior infielder), Erin Maynor (junior infielder), LeeAnn Nobles (senior infielder) and Kasey West (junior catcher).
Purnell Swett (4): Magan Barton (senior infielder), Jaileana Deese (junior pitcher), Kaitlyn Hunt (senior infielder) and Madison Strickland (senior infielder).
Hoke County (2): Alexis Blackwell (senior infielder) and Jessyca Cardona (senior outfielder).
Scotland (2): Macie Gibson (senior infielder) and Katie Lighthall (senior infielder).
Pinecrest (1): Katelyn Chisholm (junior outfielder).
Seventy-First (1): Unique Nash (sophomore pitcher).
