In a showdown between rivals Hamlet and Rockingham middle schools on Thursday, the two schools split on the baseball and softball diamonds.
Rockets end Red Rams’ winning streak
Entering the day, Hamlet had won its first seven games of the season, but that ended when Rockets defeated the Red Rams 4-3 on the road.
In what Rockingham head coach Jamie McDonald called “a typical Rockingham-Hamlet rivalry game,” Caden Nolan pitched a complete game and earned the win for the Rockets. He registered 10 strikeouts and gave up just three hits.
Opposite of Nolan was Hamlet’s Evan Hodges, who also threw a complete game. Hodges fanned an impressive 18 batters.
Leading the Rockets at the plate was Jason Gainey, who went 4-for-4 and scored two runs. Preston Fann and Andrae Streeter both notched two hits, and Lucky Cipriani collected a base knock.
With the game tied entering the top of the seventh, Cipriani scored the eventual game-winning run for the Rockets.
Hamlet head coach Anthony Hailey noted the Red Rams didn’t swing the bats well and also struggled to capitalize with runners in scoring position, leaving eight runners in scoring position
“We also had a few errors and base running mistakes,” Hailey said, “but overall I am very proud of how my guys competed until the last out and I couldn’t ask anymore from them.”
The Rockets improved to 6-3 and will travel to Anson Orange on May 2. Hamlet is now 7-1 and will play at Cordova on Thursday, April 28.
Lady Red Rams outlast Lady Rockets
On the softball diamond, the Lady Red Rams won this year’s edition of the rivalry in a high-scoring game, which ended in a 19-16 victory.
Mackenzie Quick pitched a complete game for Hamlet and had 16 strikeouts, while also adding three singles in five trips to the plate.
Rockingham jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning, but the Lady Red Rams battled and were able to score seven runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead.
The Lady Rockets regained the lead in the third by adding five runs and one more in the fourth.
Battling back once again, Hamlet added five more runs in the fourth and another two runs in the fifth to tie the game.
The Lady Red Rams were able to hold the Rockets in the top of the sixth and added five runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good.
Quick faced six batters in the top of the seventh and finished off the game with her 16th strikeout.
Leading hitters for Hamlet included Shelby Brown (two singles and a triple) and Amariyana Ingram (three singles), who also each drew a walk. Hayden Robinson (single, triple) and Olivia Brown (double, single) added two hits in the win.
Kalynn McCormick and Kinsie Lyerly both connected for a double, and Lyerly also scored a run when an error allowed her to round the bases. Hollie Diaz Clemons and Lexi Smith both reached base twice via a base on balls.
The Lady Red Rams are 4-4 on the season and will play at Cordova Middle on April 28 to wrap up regular-season play.
Note: No other information was reported for Rockingham’s softball team.
Ellerbe baseball loses close game
The Ellerbe Middle School baseball team lost a close game, 3-2, against Spring Hill Middle School at home on Thursday.
Camden Williams connected for two hits at the plate and drove in one run. Also adding a hit for the Wildcats was Siris Vaughn.
Note: Coaches Lauren Brewer, Anthony Hailey, Jamie McDonald and Tommy Shelton submitted scores and details for this article. No other stats or information were reported by the time of publication.
Coaches can submit details to be published by emailing kpillar@richmondobserver.com.
