Home Local Sports Kenleigh Frye: The Official Richmond County Female Athlete of the Week

Kenleigh Frye: The Official Richmond County Female Athlete of the Week

Senior softball player Kenleigh Frye has been named the Official Richmond County Female Athlete of the Week presented by HWY 55.
Kyle Pillar — Sports Editor.

ROCKINGHAM — Helping the Richmond Senior High School softball team jump out to a fast start in its first game of the season, senior Kenleigh Frye has been named the Official Richmond County Female Athlete of the Week presented by HWY 55.

Collecting three hits and adding three runs batted in, Frye’s efforts at the plate pushed the Lady Raiders to a 10-2 win over non-conference Montgomery Central High School.

Expected to be one of several driving forces and leaders on this year’s team, this is Frye’s second career recognition, having also earned it as a member of the golf team during her sophomore year.

Frye is signed to play softball at Wingate University once she graduates high school this year.

Athletic Profile

Age: 17

Birthday: July 10, 2004

Year: Senior

Spring Sport: Softball

Position: 2B/CF

Height & Weight:  5-4, 135 pounds

Years on Varsity: 4 years

Experience: 13 years

“AROUND THE BASES” WITH KENLEIGH FRYE 

The Lady Raiders tallied 11 hits in Thursday’s win, with Frye going 3-for-4 against the Lady Timberwolves. She was just a double shy of hitting for the cycle, and was one of two Richmond players to have three total hits (senior Allyiah Swiney).

Frye’s three RBIs were also a team high, and she also scored one run in the win. She opened her night with an RBI in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Swiney, who led off with a triple.

To lead off the top of the third, Frye roped a triple to the gap for her second hit of the game. Two innings later with sophomore Addy Hollingsworth (walk) standing on second, Frye recorded her second hit and second RBI on a line drive single to center.

With Richmond leading 6-1 to start the top of the sixth inning, Frye launched a solo home run over the right field wall for her final splash play of the game. Taking a 1-0 offering from pitcher Kyndal Rush, Frye connected on the inside fastball for her first longball of the spring.

Through one game, Frye has a .750 batting average and a .600 on base percentage.

Richmond (1-0) will have three home games this week, starting with Sandhills Athletic Conference opponent Southern Lee High School (1-1) on Tuesday at 6 p.m. 

The Lady Raiders will close out the week with Montgomery Central on Thursday and SAC foe Pinecrest on Friday.

Kenleigh Frye (6) races into third bases for a standup triple in Thursday’s win over Montgomery Central. (Kyle Pillar/The Richmond Observer)

RAPID RESPONSES WITH KENLEIGH FRYE

ROSports: You had a really strong start to the season with three hits and three RBIs in the first game. What do you think about while at the plate in order to be so successful?

Frye: “Practicing throughout the offseason and putting the work in early has helped me alot. I’ve also been hitting nearly every day and any type of work I do in the field gets my confidence up.

“When I hit the home run, it was an inside fastball, so I just took advantage of that mistake. I think about hitting it backside and staying inside the ball and hitting it hard. I try to make hits happen to move people or become a base runner to score.”

ROSports: How would you describe your style as a hitter? And how does already being signed to Wingate motivate you at the plate?

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Frye: “I’m aggressive but I’m also really patient. I take a lot of pitches and can be selective in which ones I swing at, which helps me.

“It’s not any different, really. There’s always going to be anxiety to start the season or during an at-bat. I still approach every at-bat the same because the game hasn’t changed and my own expectations haven’t changed. I just want to get hits to help the team.”

ROSports: The Lady Raiders have three home games this week, including two Sandhills Athletic Conference games. What’s the goal for the team and how will the Lady Raiders achieve them?

Frye: “We want to win all three games, that’s our first goal. But we want to continue to work on cleaning up our defense, swinging at strikes and not give easy outs to the other team.”

The Richmond Observer will publish its Official Richmond County Male Athlete of the Week soon.



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Kyle Pillar is a 22-time North Carolina Press Association award-winning sports editor with The Richmond Observer. Follow the sports department on X @ROSports_ for the best in-depth coverage of Richmond County sports.