RAEFORD — A nearly-two week break between games didn’t factor into the Richmond Senior High School junior varsity softball team extending its winning streak Tuesday.
Making it nine consecutive wins, the JV Lady Raiders opened their two-game series against Hoke County High School this week with an 11-0 win in four innings (time limit).
Relying on a fast start in the batter’s box, a common theme this season, the JV Lady Raiders ran away early with a seven-run top of the first.
Adding insurance runs in the next two innings, Richmond scored three runs in the second and its final run in the third.
Helping keep the JV Lady Bucks scoreless, freshman pitcher Autumn Cooper threw a four-inning no-hitter, her first of the season. She walked two batters and struck out five in the win.
Cooper had a 1-2-3 inning in the third, faced four batters twice and stranded a runner in a five-batter bottom of the second.
At the plate, Richmond connected for 11 hits. Leading the team with three base hits was sophomore Abby Hinson, who also had two runs batted in. Sophomore Annabelle Millen and freshman Grace Hill both had two hits, including a double apiece, and one RBI.
Freshman Ava Parks doubled for her one hit and drove in two runs, while sophomore Kaylee Connor drove in a run on a triple. Adding a single and an RBI was Cooper, sophomore Liz Lunceford had a base hit and sophomore Jordyn Chappell had one RBI.
Millen made it 1-0 two at-bats into the game when she doubled home Hill (walk). With one out, Millen scored on an error and Cooper connected for an RBI base hit to bring in freshman Lyra Newton (error) to extend the lead to 3-0.
Another error by Hoke County plated Cooper and Connor’s three-bagger made it 5-0 when Parks (error) scored.
An RBI single by Hinson and an RBI double from Hill accounted for the inning’s final two runs.
With Lunceford (error) and Cooper (walk) in scoring position with one out in the top of the second, Parks found the gap in center field for a two-RBI double.
Hinson connected for her second RBI single before the end of the half-inning to drive in Parks to give the JV Lady Raiders a double-digit lead.
Richmond’s final run was scored with two outs in the third. Chappell drew a bases-loaded walk which brought in Millen (single).
The JV Lady Raiders (10-1, 4-0 MSC) will host Hoke County Friday at 5 p.m. to close the season series.
Sports Editor’s Note: Game information and statistics provided by Richmond’s GameChanger.
