ROCKINGHAM — A back-and-forth high-scoring game resulted in the Richmond junior varsity softball team’s first win of the season on Friday.
Hosting another non-conference opponent, the JV Lady Raiders earned a 15-9 win over Montgomery Central High School.
The game was called after four innings due to the time limit for the varsity game.
Sophomore Maddie Pearson pitched a complete game, striking out a season-high 11 batters. She gave up nine runs (seven earned) on four hits and four walks.
Richmond led 3-1 after the first inning and piled on eight runs in the bottom of the second to take an 11-1 lead. Four more runs in the third rounded out the JV Lady Raiders’ scoring.
Montgomery Central tallied a run in the first, and four runs in both the third and fourth frames.
“We’ve spent a lot of time talking about base running and being aggressive on offense and not just in the box,” head coach Jordan Fortune said. “That definitely paid off today because we were able to take advantage of a lot of walks and passed balls.
“Kinsie (Lyerly) had a home run and I’m really proud of her. The team is starting to build more chemistry and is thinking about the next step instead of the moment we’re in.
“Maddie did another great job, she played hard and the defense was there to back her up. She’s become a great team leader.”
Richmond erased a 1-0 deficit in the first, seeing Mikayla English (hit-by-pitch) steal home, and Pearson (walk) and Hayden Robinson (walk) cross the plate on passed balls.
With two outs in the bottom of the second, the JV Lady Raiders started a rally, using several passed balls to score runs. Trinity Lockhart (fielder’s choice), English (hit-by-pitch) and Pearson (walk) all scored on pitches to the backstop to make it 6-1.
Lyerly dug in two at-bats later and connected on an RBI single to center field, bringing home Robinson (walk). In the game, Lyerly had three hits and three RBIs.
Next to cross the plate was Addison Raines (hit-by-pitch), who like many of her teammates, scored on a passed ball. With the score 8-1, Kamryn Simmons (walk) added another run on a ball in the dirt.
Jamesyn Quick helped the team reach double-digits in runs, belting an RBI single to center field in the next at-bat. Racing home from third was Lyerly.
Capping the inning was another pitch past the catcher, allowing Kennedy Fields (walk) to score.
Taking an 11-5 lead into the bottom of the third, Pearson recorded a one-out single and scored three pitches later on a passed ball. Simmons collected an RBI with a ground out to the pitcher, giving Robinson (single) enough time to score.
With two away, Lyerly made it a 10-run lead again when she connected on a 2-1 offering, sending it over the wall in center field for a two-run shot. Raines (walk) crossed the plate ahead of Lyerly.
The JV Lady Timberwolves scored four runs in the top of the fourth but their rally ended on Pearson’s final K.
The Lady Raiders (1-0-1) will begin Sandhills Athletic Conference play at Pinecrest High School next Friday. Action will begin at 4:30 p.m.
