ROCKINGHAM — A preseason “expectation” for the Lady Raider softball team was to win its seventh-consecutive regular season conference title. And that’s what Richmond and head coach Wendy Wallace accomplished on senior night Tuesday.
Welcoming in rival Scotland High School, the Lady Raiders clinched the title outright behind a 9-0 shutout over the Lady Fighting Scots. Wallace and company have won every conference championship since the 2013 season.
Ahead of defeating the Lady Scots for the sixth-straight time dating back to 2016, a trio of Lady Raider seniors were recognized on their special night.
Shortstop Savannah Lampley (UNC Wilmington commit), first baseman Taylor Parrish (Pfeiffer University commit) and pitcher Greyson Way (UNC Greensboro commit) celebrated with family and teammates before first pitch.
“I told the girls that tonight was the best we’ve probably played on senior night,” Wallace smiled. “Savannah, Greyson and Taylor have been leaders since they stepped onto the field, and have been especially this year. They lead by example, hold each other accountable and are a great group of girls on and off the field.
“They’re three of the most successful four-year players we’ve had in our program,” she added.
The three seniors all had monster nights, contributing both at the plate and in the field. Parrish had a team-high three hits and five RBIs, Lampley was responsible for three runs scored and Way dominated in the circle for her 15th win of the season.
Way held the Lady Scots (10-7, 6-7 SAC) to just four hits over seven innings, and canned 12 batters via the strikeout. She faced four or fewer batters in all but one of her innings pitched.
Her opposite number, sophomore pitcher Kinsley Sheppard, was shelled for nine runs on nine hits, including three doubles.
Parrish tallied her first RBI in the bottom of the first inning, scoring Lampley (error) with a two-out single to left field.
The Lady Raiders (15-2, 12-1 SAC) unloaded their bats in the bottom of the third inning, breaking the game open by scoring six runs. Sophomore Payton Chappell (single), Lampley (hit-by-pitch) and sophomore Paige Ransom (single) loaded the bases to start the frame.
Parrish connected on a 3-0 offering from Sheppard for a two-RBI double to center field, scoring Chappell and Lampley. In the next at-bat, junior Kayla Hawkins traded places with Parrish, slashing a two-RBI double to left field.
Up 5-0, freshman Kenleigh Frye would join the doubles parade, taking a shot to the center field alley to score Hawkins. Fellow freshman Allyiah Swiney singled to right field to plate Frye to end the inning.
A two-RBI single by Parrish in the bottom of the sixth inning capped the night’s scoring, seeing Chappell (error) and Lampley (walk) cross home safely.
“The girls kept hitting one ball after another and jumped on (Sheppard’s) fastball early,” Wallace said. “She did a good job of changing speeds and keeping us off balance. But in the third, (Sheppard) lost a little bit of her command and we took advantage of it.
“We’ve won seven straight conference titles,” she added. “It’s an expectation for us every year. We know it’s not given and we have to go out and earn it.”
The Lady Raiders will look for the regular-season series sweep against the Lady Fighting Scots on Thursday in Laurinburg. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
