CONCORD — A late-game rally fueled the Richmond Raider baseball team to a season-opening victory Tuesday.
Dusting up the diamond for the first time this spring, the Raiders erased a three-run deficit in the early innings to defeat West Cabarrus High School 9-6 on the road.
The win was the first of the new campaign for the team, but it was also the first victory for head coach Eric Brown, who’s in his first season leading his alma mater.
Richmond got on the board with a solo run in the top of the fourth inning, but the difference makers were five runs in the fifth and three insurance runs in the sixth frame.
“We had to earn this one,” Brown said. “I’m really proud of the way they played. The starting pitcher for them (William Parker) was tough, and the guys grinded out some ABs and made him work.
“(James) Eason did a good job starting on the mound and keeping us within striking distance, even though we made errors behind him,” he added. “(Jeremiah) Ritter was huge for a couple innings pitching, so the credit goes to those two. We were patient and started putting up some runs.”
Eason got the nod to start and allowed three earned runs on three hits through three innings, while striking out two batters.
Part of a four-man rotation in the win, Ritter tossed 2.1 innings of relief. He surrendered three runs (two earned) on two hits and tallied six Ks.
Junior Riley Brown (0.2 IP) and sophomore Evan Hodges (0.1 IP) combined to shut the door in the bottom of the seventh.
With the bases loaded and the game-winning run at the plate, Hodges induced a ground ball to Eason at short, who threw to senior Isaac Hinshaw at first to end the game.
The Wolverines (0-2) took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning courtesy of an RBI groundout and an RBI triple.
A leadoff single for West Cabarrus to start the home half of the third later yielded another run on an RBI groundout.
Eason, one of six Raiders to collect a hit, helped his cause by leading off the top of the fourth with a triple. Two batters later, Hinshaw roped an RBI single to left field to cut the deficit to 3-1.
An RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the fourth added another run to the Wolverines’ lead.
The Raiders’ game-changing top of the fifth inning started with a walk to freshman Collin Hill. He raced home from first on an RBI triple by junior Landon Taylor in the next at-bat.
That ended Williams’ night (4.0 innings, 2 runs, 2 hits) and he was replaced by Jack Petersen, who lasted a third of an inning. Petersen gave up four earned runs on one hit and four base-on-balls.
On Petersen’s fourth offering to Hodges in the ensuing at-bat, a wild pitch allowed Taylor to score from third and make it a 4-3 deficit. Hodges drew a free pass and was replaced by courtesy runner Marquan Martin.
With one away, Petersen walked sophomore Caden Nolan and was replaced by Andre Vaughn, who walked Hinshaw to load the bases. Ritter dug in two batters later, and with two away, he hammered a bases-clearing double for three RBI to put Richmond ahead 6-4.
In the bottom of the fifth, Ritter faced just four batters and stranded a runner at second with back-to-back strikeouts.
Vaughn walked Hill and Taylor to start the sixth frame. A bunt attempt from Hodges resulted in a throwing error that allowed both base runners to score safely and move Hodges to second.
Two batters later, Nolan delivered with an RBI base knock on a line drive to left field, plating Matin (running for Hodges) for Richmond’s final run.
Three straight one-out walks in the home half of the sixth, two by Ritter and one by Brown, loaded the bases for the Wolverines. Eason caught the second out on a fly ball, but consecutive bases-loaded walks scored two more runs for the home team.
Nolan helped end the threat by catching a pop fly in foul territory down the third base line. Both teams went quietly in the seventh inning, preserving Richmond’s victory.
Collecting a hit apiece were Taylor, Eason, Nolan, Hinshaw, Brown and Ritter. Taylor, Nolan and Hinshaw each drove in a run and Ritter’s three RBI led the team.
Tipping his cap to his players for completing the comeback, Coach Brown said earning his first win in green and gold felt “pretty good.”
“This is obviously what I came back here for,” Brown closed. “I want to continue on the tradition of the head coaches before me and it was good to get the first win.”
The Raiders (1-0) have off until next Tuesday when they open Sandhills Athletic Conference play in their home opener against Southern Lee High School (1-0).
Sports editor’s note: Unofficial stats provided by the Raider baseball team’s GameChanger app.
The JV Raiders’ season opener was not played Tuesday due to weather and the playing of the varsity game.
