ROCKINGHAM — Returning to play for the first time in two weeks on Wednesday, the Richmond Renegade junior varsity baseball team didn’t have time on its side.
Facing Southern Lee, the JV Renegades finished in a 1-1 tie due to the time limit.
A dominant pitching performance from Chase Woody saw him throw a complete game. He carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning.
Woody was efficient, throwing just 65 pitches. He allowed three hits, an earned run and had four strikeouts.
Aside from a two-out walk in the top of the first inning and a hit-by-pitch in the fourth, Woody retired every batter he faced through five complete.
The JV Renegades’ offense was also slow to start, but finished the day with five hits. Jason Gainey recorded the first of his team-high two singles in the first inning.
Richmond stranded five base runners through the first four innings. Drew Gause had a double and Adan King added a single during that stretch.
It was Gainey’s bat that drove in Richmond’s lone run to give the JV Renegades a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth.
A leadoff line drive single to center from C.J. Jenkins put him on and he moved to third on a steal and a passed ball. Gainey dribbled a swinging bunt in front of the plate and beat out the throw to score Jenkins.
Southern Lee’s first hit came in the first at-bat of the sixth. Woody used a fielder’s choice, a sac bunt and a lineout to right field to escape the inning.
Tying the game up an inning later, Southern Lee used a two-out RBI single to left field.
Richmond went down in order in the home half of the seventh.
The JV Renegades (1-1-2) will host Southern Lee again on Thursday at 4 p.m.
The Richmond Observer will publish a photo gallery soon.