ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond Raider baseball team will become the first program to kick off the final round of spring sports this school year.
Second-year head coach Rob Ransom and the Raiders will begin their 12-game Sandhills Athletic Conference only campaign on Tuesday. Having spent the fall and winter months working out and practicing, Richmond hopes to capitalize after a shortened slate last spring.
After starting the 2020 season 0-3, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association postponed and eventually canceled all spring sports because of the coronavirus.
Ransom admitted that recouping that lost time will be hard to do with a team that returns only three seniors and four juniors from last year. Adding seven juniors making the jump from junior varsity and one freshman, the Raiders’ aim is to battle toward the top of the conference standings.
“The energy level has been really good, our attitude has been positive, and I can’t say enough about how the guys have handled themselves,” Ransom said. “A lot of it has to do with missing the opportunity to play.
“The boys have had to wait so long to play with our season being pushed back, but we are anxious to get the season rolling.”
Returning starters this season include seniors Tony Gathings, Hunter Hancock and Michael Pettitt, along with juniors Harley Honeycutt, Alston Johnson, Cameron Way and Colin Wheeler.
In three games last spring, Hancock (infielder) and Pettitt (outfielder) both hit .286, while Way (shortstop, pitcher) and Wheeler (catcher) hit at a .222 clip.
Junior Harley Honeycutt throws in the top of the second inning during last Thursday’s scrimmage. (Michelle Parrish)
Just days away from heading to Purnell Swett High School for the season opener, Ransom said the team’s biggest strength will be its revolving door of pitchers. He plans to use a five-man platoon, especially in the early weeks to get their arms in shape.
Honeycutt, along with varsity newcomers Will Dawkins (junior), Jude Howard (junior) and freshman Camron Seagraves will serve as starters and middle relief pitchers. Ransom hopes to use Way as an anchor in games.
Of the five, only Honeycutt and Way saw action from the mound for the Raiders last spring. Howard pitched several innings for the junior varsity team, while Dawkins is a transfer from Marlboro Academy.
Last year, Honeycutt and Way both tossed 3.2 innings and combined to give up three hits. Way punched out six batters and allowed two unearned runs, while Honeycutt struck out three and gave up four earned runs.
“Pitching will be one of our strengths,” Ransom explained. “And if we can throw strikes, I feel confident that we will make plays behind them. Our defense is the best part of our team right now.”
Around the rest of the infield, Ransom expects Wheeler to serve as the pitchers’ battery mate, Johnson will hold down second base with Way at short when he’s not pitching. Dawkins and Honeycutt will split time at first base, with Honeycutt also working the hot corner.
Hancock is dealing with an upper body injury, which will limit his time at third base. Other options to sprinkle around the infield will be Howard, Seagraves and junior David O’Neal.
Protecting the outfield grass will be junior Matthew Walker in left, Gathings in center and Pettitt in right. Ransom added that players like juniors Dexter Mabe, Chandler Orr and Caleb Talton will be used throughout the season.
“We’ve got a good team and we’ll be competitive in the conference,” Ransom said. “A concern for the team is there are a lot of young guys without varsity experience. Last year we had five sophomores on varsity and they didn’t get games in due to COVID, so we missed a year to mature and get the necessary game experience.
“Right now we’re focused on improving our fundamentals and keeping a positive attitude,” he added. “We want to make routine plays, swing at good pitches and have good pitch selection and maintain a strong energy. Baseball is a simple game, and this can make us successful.”
Senior Michael Pettitt, the team’s right fielder, takes a lead off first during the 7-1 win over Montgomery Central. (Michelle Parrish)
Two springs ago, the Raiders finished second in the SAC, which has proven to have some tough teams. Ransom isn’t discounting Pinecrest High School, which he called the “conference’s benchmark the last couple of years.”
Other teams that he expects to be good this year are Purnell Swett High School, which no-hit the Raiders in their final game of 2020, and rival Scotland High School. Ransom said teams like Hoke County and Jack Britt are also improved.
Richmond last won the regular season conference title in 2016, and has made playoff appearances every year since then.
Last Thursday, the Raiders played their only pre-season scrimmage, rolling past Montgomery Central 7-1. Ransom was able to get all five pitchers a couple of innings under their belt and called it a “good tune-up” for the new season.
“We want to win games, be in position to compete for the conference title, and make the state playoffs,” Ransom said. “Our main goal is to stay healthy and stay away from COVID. With a little bit of luck, and some consistency, we should have a pretty good season.”
Playing Tuesdays and Fridays, the Raiders will open at Purnell Swett before closing the week with a home game. Both games will begin at 7 p.m.
