With 2021-22 school year now at a close, area high school sports fans have a couple of months off before the Richmond Raider sports teams are in action again.
For those that do not follow middle school sports, the Richmond Observer will take a look at some future Raiders that you may or may not know about. Today’s featured female and male middle school athlete are Cordova Middle’s Lizzie Lunceford and Hamlet Middle’s Tristan Chavis.
Lizzie Lunceford
Lunceford played volleyball and softball for the Cordova Middle School Lady Cavaliers. Outside of school, you may catch Lizzie on the baseball diamond as well with a rec team in Hamlet. She also plays rec softball and rec volleyball in Rockingham.
The sixth grade dual athlete loves to compete, but has a special love for the diamond and her time as Cordova’s catcher.
“I think Cordova’s coaches are pretty great and my teammates from volleyball and softball were great players,” Lunceford shared. “I think my favorite moment would just be being able to catch for (Cordova pitcher) Madison Hancock.”
A highlight of the spring season for Lunceford was in Cordova’s convincing mercy rule victory over West Hoke and East Hoke to start the season. In those games, the first-year catcher recorded multiple tag outs at home and had success at the plate including a 2-run inside the park home run.
The rising seventh grader plans to add cheerleading to her resume this fall and has goals of joining the Richmond Senior High softball and volleyball teams in a few years.
“I always give a 110% when playing sports.”
Tristan Chavis
As a member of Hamlet Middle School’s football and baseball teams this school year, Chavis is no stranger to winning. Both programs played in their respective conference championship games during the 2021-22 school year.
Chavis, who just finished his seventh grade year, is a “coachable” athlete and values the input of others when it comes to his performance on the field. He attributes most of his success to the guidance of his coaches and teammates.
“Whether it has been academically, with my batting form or my pitching, coach Anthony Hailey has helped me a lot over the season,” Chavis shared. “He really is a great coach. I would also like to thank Coach Matthew Sellers as well as my teammates – especially Keith Cummings and Evan Hodges – for helping correct some of my mistakes and making me a better player. My team works hard and our coaches push us to do our best.”
Although, the Red Rams football team came up one win short of a title, the baseball team finished the season 11-1 and claimed the conference title with an 11-3 victory over Anson Blue just a few weeks ago.
“Tristan is a hard worker who is a player that wants to get better every day,” shared Hailey. “I am excited to see him develop and be key player for the team next season.”
His favorite moments this school year was recovering a fumble in the conference championship game and recording an RBI against a West Hoke pitcher that he had struggled against.
In addition to competing as a Red Ram, Chavis also enjoys recreation football and baseball. He plans to try out for baseball, football and basketball at RSHS
“Tristan Chavis is a great young man,” Sellers said of Chavis. “He is the true definition of a student-athlete. He works hard on and off the field. His is a great teammate and very respectable young man.”