ELLERBE — This week also brought the start of the middle school baseball and softball season, and Rockingham Middle School swept Ellerbe Middle School to get things going.
Rockets no-hit Wildcats in opener
The Rockets, who are the defending Southeastern Middle School Athletic Conference champions, made quick work against the Wildcats on Monday. Rockingham took the opener 10-0 in five innings.
Rocket pitchers Camron Seagraves, James Eason and Damon Bryant combined to no-hit Ellerbe. The three of them totaled 12 punchouts in the win.
For Ellerbe and head coach Allen Adeimy, Mason Murray started on the hill and allowed four runs on two hits, three walks and tossed three strikeouts. Teammate Brooks Calhoun came in to pitch in relief, and gave up five runs on four hits and four walks and one K.
Two other pitchers took to the hill for the Wildcats, seeing Sam Thompson take over with one out in the third. He allowed the final run of the game on a sacrifice fly to Riley Brown. Vance Goodwin pitched a scoreless fifth inning.
At the plate for the Rockets and head coach Jamie McDonald, Seagraves went 2-for-2 with a home run and three runs batted in. Eason notched two doubles in his two at-bats, Bryant was 2-for-3 with an RBI, Landon Taylor recorded an RBI double and Conner Phifer added a hit.
Rockingham (1-0) will host West Hoke on Monday, while Ellerbe (0-1) welcomes in Cordova Middle School on Thursday.
Lady Rockets edge Lady Wildcats in high-scoring affair
On the softball diamond, the Lady Rockets and head coach Morgan Davis outlasted Ellerbe 21-19 to earn a season-opening win. Kennedy Fields pitched for Rockingham and earned the win, collecting four strikeouts in the process.
Leading the Lady Rockets was Keyoni Nichols, who went 2-for-2 with a single and an inside-the-park home run for two RBI. She also drew three walks, with two being intentional.
Carolina Gonzalez was 2-for-3 with a single, a double, a walk and one RBI. Gracie Scott also had a big afternoon, going 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and one RBI.
No stats were provided for Ellerbe’s softball team.
Rockingham (1-0) will also host West Hoke Monday, and the Lady Wildcats (0-1) will look for a win against Cordova on Thursday.
Contributing to this report were Allen Adeimy, Morgan Davis and Jamie McDonald. To report middle school scores, email sports editor Kyle Pillar at kpillar@richmondobserver.com.
