LAURINBURG — The Lady Raider softball team was able to do what Scotland High School couldn’t do earlier in the week — which was spoil it’s biggest rival’s senior night.
Playing its third game in as many nights, Richmond carried over its momentum from Tuesday’s shutout home win against Scotland to cap regular-season Sandhills Athletic Conference play Thursday with a 4-1 victory.
Making her first career start in the circle was senior Taylor Parrish, who picked up the win along with eight strikeouts. She replaced usual starter and fellow senior Greyson Way after she suffered an undisclosed injury against Anson High School on Wednesday.
“Taylor hasn’t thrown but a couple of innings against Marlboro Academy,” head coach Wendy Wallace said. “I told her I needed for her to step in and throw strikes tonight and she did. Taylor did a good job of getting ahead, but even when she was behind, she came right back.
“Her pitches can be hard to hit when she throws strikes,” she added. “She can change speed really well and her ball moves all over the place.”
Way’s absence also shifted the Richmond defense around, seeing freshman Allyiah Swiney move from center field to first base, and gave fellow freshman Maylyn Wallace her first start in left field. Coach Wallace noted her team “adjusted well” to the different lineup.
Parrish was efficient through seven innings, allowing just one run on three hits and four walks. She stunted a would-be Scotland rally in the bottom of the seventh, getting out of a bases-loaded, two-out jam. A ground ball back to her in the circle ended the threat.
The Lady Raiders scattered seven hits off of sophomore pitcher Kinsley Sheppard, with senior shortstop Savannah Lampley and Parrish recording a team-high two hits apiece. Lampley had a single and smoked a triple, while Parrish had a double and a single.
Scotland took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning, but the Lady Raiders hung a three spot up in the next half inning to take a lead they wouldn’t surrender.
Maylyn Wallace led off with a walk, stole second and moved to third on an infield bunt single by Swiney. Wallace would come home on an error, and with Swiney at third, Lampley adjusted on a Sheppard change up and roped an RBI single to right field.
Junior catcher Kayla Hawkins capped the inning’s scoring with an RBI single to left field, seeing Lampley race in safely.
Sophomore Payton Chappell would add an insurance run in the top of the fifth inning, scoring fellow sophomore Paige Ranson (fielder’s choice). Chappell, Lampley and Hawkins all recorded one RBI.
The win wrapped up the Lady Raiders’ regular season conference schedule, and moved their record to 13-1 against SAC opponents.
“We had one really good inning at the plate in the third, just like we had one big inning against them on Tuesday,” Wendy Wallace said. “We could have committed a few less mistakes and capitalized with runners on, but I liked we were aggressive on the bases.
“The girls bounced back from our one conference loss (to Lumberton),” she concluded. “They come out every game and do what they need to do. We’re always glad to win the conference.”
The Lady Raiders will head to the beach over spring break and compete in the Beach Diamond Invitational at West Brunswick High School. The three-day tournament begins Monday with Richmond playing South Columbus High School (10 a.m.).
On Tuesday, the Lady Raiders (17-2, 13-1 SAC) will play Whiteville (10 a.m.) and East Bladen (4 p.m.) high schools. Wednesday will be the final rounds with the championship game set for 7 p.m.
