Home Local Sports Lady Raiders roll Pinecrest 15-0 in mercy-rule win

Lady Raiders roll Pinecrest 15-0 in mercy-rule win

ROSports File Photo: Sophomore Ryelan Lyerly hit a two-run homer, her first of the season, in a win over Pinecrest.
Kyle Pillar — Sports Editor.

SOUTHERN PINES — Staying in the hunt for a Sandhills Athletic Conference title, the Richmond Senior High School softball team earned a season sweep over Pinecrest on Wednesday.

Defeating their 4A Sandhills Athletic Conference opponent  in mercy-rule fashion for the second time this season, the Lady Raiders earned a 15-0 win in five innings.

The 15-run win tied the team’s largest margin of victory this spring (defeated Southern Lee 18-3), and it was Richmond’s fourth shutout of the season. On March 11, the Lady Raiders also shutout Pinecrest 10-0.

Junior pitcher Quston Leviner pitched a complete game and allowed just three hits, all singles. She struck out six batters and didn’t allow any walks.

Collecting 14 hits as a team, each of Richmond’s nine starters had at least one hit. Senior Kenleigh Frye was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and double, and junior Makayla Parks added two hits (a double and a triple) and three RBIs.

Also producing at the plate was senior Allyiah Swiney with a double and a triple and two RBIs, and sophomore Ryelan Lyerly smoked her first home run of the season and recorded two runs batted in.

Rounding out the team’s five double performance were junior Macy Steen and sophomore Christi Jacobs, who added a single. Leviner and sophomores Katie Way and Addy Hollingsworth all chipped in a base hit, and Leviner added three RBIs.

Richmond took a 3-0 lead after the top of the first inning. Frye had an RBI single to right to score Swiney (double), Parks brought Frye in on a double to left and a sacrifice fly by Leviner to center plated Parks.

With no outs in the top of the second, Lyerly sent the seventh pitch of her at-bat from starter Emily Jones (2.0 innings, 7 runs, 6 hits) over the left field wall for a two-run blast. Scoring on the long ball was Jacobs, who led off the inning with a walk.

An RBI single by Leviner and a passed ball scored Way (error) to make it 7-0 after the top of the third inning.

Frye added to the lead in the fourth with an RBI single off relief pitcher Macey Jackson (3.0 innings, 8 runs, 8 hits), scoring Swiney (triple).

A seven-run top of the fifth sealed the deal for the Lady Raiders. Jacobs led off with a double and scored on an error, and Frye capped her big night at the plate with an RBI double to right to score courtesy runner Kady Harris. 

Parks laced a two-RBI triple in the next at-bat, Leviner added another sac fly, Steen scored Way on a double to center and Jacobs recorded an RBI with an infield single.

Getting hits for Pinecrest (4-8, 3-4 SAC) were Maggie Drake, Frances Hanshew and Lauren Jefferson.

Friday will pose as another big 4A game for the second-place Lady Raiders (10-2, 7-2 SAC), who will host third-place Hoke County High School (7-8, 4-3 SAC). 

In the teams’ first meeting, the Lady Bucks edged Richmond by a run in nine innings. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.

JV Lady Raiders also run-rule Pinecrest

Returning to action for the first time since last Tuesday, the Richmond junior varsity softball team defeated Pinecrest 12-2 in four innings.

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The game was called due to the time limit, and pitcher Maddie Pearson earned the win. She threw a complete game, allowed two earned runs on four hits and struck out eight batters.

Leading 5-0 after the first two innings, the JV Lady Raiders put up six runs in the third inning before adding their final run in the fourth.

Richmond collected six hits, all singles, and was led by Trinity Lockhart’s two base knocks. Adding one hit apiece were Keyoni Nichols, Kady Harris, Jakayla Steele and Erin Fields. 

Lockhart and Fields each recorded an RBI, Pearson and Fields scored two runs apiece and the team drew 10 walks at the plate.

Improving to 4-6, the JV Lady Raiders will play Hoke County on Friday, starting at 5 p.m.

JV Raiders win at Lee County

The Richmond junior varsity baseball team returned to the diamond for the first time this week, making up a game with Lee County High School.

A strong start by Alan Taylor on the mound (4.1 innings, 6 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 strikeouts) helped the JV Raiders to a 6-3 win.

Jason Walker closed the door in the final 2.2 innings, allowing just one unearned run on two hits and three punchouts.

Two runs in the first, a run in the fifth and three runs in the top of the seventh were enough for Richmond.

Collecting 11 hits as a team, Jeremiah Ritter led the way with three hits, including a double and an RBI. Landon Taylor, Isaac Hinshaw and Mason Murray all had two hits, with one of Murray’s going for two bases.

Murray had a team-leading three RBIs, while Hinshaw also drove in a run in the win. Sam Thompson and Riley Brown each drew two walks, and Thompson also scored a run.

“It was a great team win tonight, and Alan did a good job of giving us a chance on the mound and that’s all you can ask out of a starter,” head coach Ryan Mercer said. “Jason once again pitched in relief and did his job. He’s done a great job in that role this year. 

“I loved the way we battled back after we let them cut it to one,” he added. “Mason had a huge bases-clearing double to give us a cushion. Jeremiah, Landon, Isaac, and Mason all having a multi-hit game was huge. These guys are starting to play our brand of baseball and it’s showing. 

“I love this team and we have to come back Friday prepared for another battle with a good Lee County team.”

Now 7-4 on the campaign, the JV Raiders will host Lee County on Friday, beginning at 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.