ROCKINGHAM — They may have had to wait a little longer than normal to find out, but four Richmond Senior High School baseball players have been named to the 2022 All-Sandhills Athletic Conference team.
Seniors Matthew Walker, Cameron Way and Colin Wheeler, along with sophomore Camron Seagraves, represented Richmond as part of the 26-player postseason roster.
Earning their second consecutive All-Conference nod were Walker and Way, and it was the first career recognition for Wheeler and Seagraves.
The official All-SAC baseball team was released on Sunday following Pinecrest High School’s loss in the second game of the NCHSAA 4A state championship series.
“We are very excited for these players,” Richmond head coach Rob Ransom said. “This is a tough conference, very competitive, especially in baseball. I thought Seagraves pitched well for us all season. Wheeler pitched well and played an important role defensively on the mound and behind the plate. Walker and Way were offensive and defensive leaders as well.
“The three seniors provided stability and leadership this season as well as their on-field performance,” he added. “We are excited about Seagraves’ future and next season at Richmond. He will be in a leadership role and will be depended on to perform and guide his teammates.”
Pinecrest and Scotland High School, which split the regular-season conference championship, both had five players selected.
Colby Wallace was named “Pitcher of the Year,” while the Patriots’ Jeff Hewitt was tabbed “Coach of the Year.”
Dylan Kelly of Lee County High School got “Player of the Year,” and the Yellow Jackets were the third team to have five players chosen.
This spring, the Raiders went 14-9 and took fourth place in the Sandhills Athletic Conference with a 5-8 mark. Richmond earned second place in the SAC 4A standings.
That allowed them to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2019. Richmond edged Cleveland High School by a run in the first round before being eliminated by Pincrest in the second round.
Matthew Walker, senior LF/1B
A left-handed batter in the No. 3 hole, Walker’s efforts at the plate this spring saw him lead the Raiders in several offensive categories. Walker posted team-highs in batting average (.344), slugging percentage (.531), home runs (2) and RBIs (15).
His 22 hits were tied for the team lead with Way, and four of Walker’s hits went for doubles. He hit home runs against Southern Lee and Scotland. He contributed 16 runs scored, 10 stolen bases and had an on-base percentage of .444.
Cameron Way, senior 3B/P
A three-year varsity player, Way proved to be helpful at the plate and at third base this spring. Also notching 22 hits, Way smacked five doubles, which was tied for the team lead. He batted .301 with 12 RBIs and 12 runs scored.
Way’s job as the two-hole hitter was to get on base and he had a .400 on-base percentage and added a .370 slugging percentage. In the field, Way was often used as a late-game pitcher for Richmond. He tallied 13.2 innings of work and struck out 11 batters.
Colin Wheeler, senior C/P
During his senior season, Wheeler served as Richmond’s top catcher but also became the No. 2 starting pitcher. Getting to throw more this year, Wheeler tossed 38.2 innings and earned two wins. He struck out 32 batters and had a 3.80 ERA.
At the plate, Wheeler hit .250 as the clean up hitter with 17 hits, including two doubles and a .279 slugging percentage. He drove in 13 RBIs, scored eight runs and threw five runners out trying to steal a base.
Camron Seagraves, sophomore P/LF
Growing in his role as the team’s No. 1 starting pitcher, Seagraves concluded his second varsity season by leading the Raiders in most pitching categories. That included 42.2 innings pitched, five wins, a 1.64 ERA, 43 strikeouts and an opponent batting average of .179.
Seagraves batted .258 with 17 hits and matched Way for the team lead in doubles with five and added a triple. He drove in 10 RBIs, scored 11 runs, swiped 10 bases and had an on-base percentage of .333.
VIDEO INTERVIEW: Cameron Way and Matthew Walker
VIDEO INTERVIEW: Camron Seagraves and Colin Wheeler
