GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Powerade State Games of North Carolina have come and gone, and for three Richmond Senior High School student-athletes, the experience is something they won’t soon forget.
Rising senior baseball players Cameron Carraway and Jake Ransom, and rising sophomore softball player Paige Ransom travelled to Greensboro last week to compete for their respective Region 4 team, after being selected in early May. It was Ransom’s second career selection, as he participated in last year’s event, while Carraway and Ransom were first-time players.
The Powerade State Games is an annual high school tournament for underclassmen players that offers additional competition and allows for college scouts to observe some of the best athletes in the state. Broken into eight regions, each team completed four games during their tournament. Region 4 is comprised of 11 counties ,including: Bladen, Columbus, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Moore, Montgomery, Richmond, Robeson and Scotland.
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Powerade State Games – Baseball
The baseball tournament was held from Wednesday, June 13, through Sunday, June 17, at UNC-Greensboro Baseball Stadium and Grimsley High School. Carraway and Ransom’s team went 1-3 overall, which was one more win than the Region 4 team had a year ago.
Competing in Pool B, the two Raider varsity players faced off against the teams of Regions 3 (Wake County area), 6 (Mecklenburg County area) and 7 (Caldwell County area). In its first game on Thursday, June 14, Region 4, coached by Scotland High School’s Chad Hill, fell to 10-4, but followed up with a win over Region 7 the next morning by a final score of 3-0. Carraway and Ransom continued their tournament play with their second game on Saturday, June 16, with a 3-0 loss to Region 6.
Region 4 fell to Region 1 (Dare County area) in the tournament’s consolation game on Sunday, June 17, at Grimsley High School 5-4.
Ransom, a power-hitting left-hander who has seen time at first base and as the designated hitter for Richmond head coach Ricky Young, fulfilled Region 4’s designated hitter position in all four games. He went 1-4 at the plate (.250 average) and also drew two walks.
“It was fun to go back and see all of the amazing facilities and see the great competition,” Ransom said exclusively to the Richmond Observer. “It was a lot less nerve-racking this time because I knew what to expect.
“The competition is extremely good there,” Ransom continued about his experience. “Everyone can hit and make plays in the field. The pitchers throw a lot harder and are able to hit their spots.”
Carraway, like Ransom, has played first base for Richmond, and he’s also expected to be one of Young’s go-to arms in the 2019 rotation. In the four-game tournament, Carraway primarily played first base, pitched a couple of innings, while also playing third base. At the plate, he went 0-5 on the week, but noted he “hit some balls hard and put some good swings on the ball.”
On the hill, Carraway picked up the save in Region 4’s only win over Region 7, coming in with one out in the seventh inning and the bases loaded. He earned a strikeout and didn’t allow any runs to score, securing the 3-0 victory.
“It was a really fun experience to be down there with those guys,” Carraway said. “It was good to play against some big-time (college) commits and players. The lineup changed every day, so I hit in different spots.
“(This tournament) prepares me for my senior season because it allowed me to face some tough competition and see some really good pitching,” he added.
Aside from getting the chance to dig in and play the game they love, Ransom and Carraway’s favorite moment from the Powerade State Games was the camaraderie with their fellow Region 4 teammates.
“My favorite memory was hanging out with all of the guys I have competed against since I was little,” Ransom said. “And learning more about them and their baseball careers.”
“The best part of the tournament was being around all the guys all week,” Carraway echoed. “I got to be around them and talk to guys that I’m normally playing against. I also tried to pick their brains a little bit because they’re some of the best players in the state. All in all, it was a good time.”
During his junior season at Richmond, Ransom batted .292, had 19 hits, 13 RBIs and one home run. Carraway hit .154 with 5 RBI and one double, and also made five appearances on the mound. He collected an 0-1 record with 11 strikeouts in 9.2 innings pitched. Both are playing for Richmond’s summer development team, the Richmond Rattlers.
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Powerade State Games – Softball
The softball tournament was played after the baseball tournament wrapped up, taking place on Tuesday, June 19, through Wednesday, June 20, at UNCG and Carolyn Allen Park. Ransom and her fellow Region 4 teammates, coached by Whiteville High School’s Olivia Scott, went 2-2 overall in the tournament, and lost its Bronze Medal game to Region 7 (Caldwell County area) 10-2.
Ransom and Region 4 competed in Pool A, and saw action against teams from Regions 1 (Dare County area), Region 2 (Brunswick County area) and Region 3 (Wake County Area). Playing two games a day, Region 4 opened tournament play on Tuesday, June 19, by falling to Region 1 12-9, before scrapping back to defeat Region 2 9-8.
In the second day of competition, Region 4 blasted Region 3 11-3, before falling to Region 7 in the playoff bracket.
“The State Games reminded me a lot of playing in showcase tournaments because I saw a lot of great players from around the state,” Ransom said of her first time participating. “I enjoyed meeting and playing with (and against) girls who love softball like I do.”
After having a record-breaking season as a freshman right fielder for head coach Wendy Wallace’s Lady Raiders, Ransom kept up her hot bat in Greensboro. She went 5-11 at the plate (.455 average), with five singles, five RBIs, a walk and a sacrifice fly. Ransom also got a chance to work from the circle, pitching five innings.
“That was the highlight of the tournament for me,” Ransom said of her pithing endeavor. “The State Games was a positive experience for me — the coaches were very nice, and I hope to make it again next year.”
This past season, Ransom broke Richmond’s freshman home run record by hitting 11 total, surpassing current rising senior Greyson Way’s 2016 record of seven. She led the Sandhills Athletic Conference in home runs, batted a team second-best .473, and was named to the All-SAC and All-District 4 teams. She’s playing travel softball this summer for SEC softball.
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