ROCKINGHAM — The longest winning streak of the spring sports season during the 2025-26 school year belonged to the Richmond Senior High School junior varsity softball team.
Finishing the season with a 16-1 overall record, the JV Lady Raiders and head coach Lauren Brewer rattled off 15 consecutive wins after splitting their first two games.
Part of that winning streak was a perfect 10-0 record against Mid-South Conference opponents, which saw the JV Lady Raiders finish atop the final standings.
Capping the electric season was an 8-7 walk-off win over Pinecrest High School.
Here is the original article published May 1, 2026:
ROCKINGHAM — A winning streak that lasted nearly the entire season was extended one final time Thursday for the Richmond junior varsity softball team.
Hosting Pinecrest High School in their season finale, the JV Lady Raiders won 8-7 in walk-off fashion. The game was four innings due to the time limit.
After the JV Lady Patriots tied the game in the top of the fourth, an error with one out and two runners on base allowed Richmond to win the game.
The JV Lady Raiders led 3-1 after the first inning and added a run in the second to hold a 4-3 lead.
A trio of runs in the home half of the third made it 7-4 before Pinecrest answered with three runs in the final frame.
Despite being outhit by Pinecrest 9-4, and committing five errors, Richmond won its 15th straight game.
Freshman Autumn Cooper picked up another W in the circle with a complete game effort. Only one of her seven runs allowed was earned, as she gave up nine hits and struck out four batters.
Trailing by a run early, freshman Grace Hill reached on a one-out single and moved to second on an error. A wild pitch moved Hill to third, who tied the game when sophomore Annabelle Millen hit a sacrifice fly to center.
Making it 3-1 were freshman Lyra Newton and sophomore courtesy runner Jordyn Chappell, who both scored thanks to a wild pitch.
Breaking a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the second, freshman Kaydence Cooke singled and later crossed home plate safely on a passed ball.
With Richmond facing a one-run deficit to start its half of the fourth, Newton led off with a double and scored on the same sequence when Pinecrest committed an error.
Cooper helped herself out when she doubled home sophomore Kaylee Connor (walk) with one out to put Richmond up 6-4. Cooke did a job later with an RBI groundout to third to bring Cooper in safely and make it a three-run lead.
Pinecrest made things interesting in the fourth when it tied the game on an error and two extra-base hits.
Sophomore Abby Hinson got the final half frame started with a free pass. Moving to second on an error, and later to third base on a steal, Hinson scored the walk-off run when Pinecrest booted a play on a liner to third base.
Millen, Cooper and Cooke each drove in one run. Hill and Cooper had a double apiece and Newton and Cooke both singled.
The JV Lady Raiders finished the season with a 16-1 overall record, with their only loss coming in during the second game of the campaign to West Stanly High School.
Richmond and head coach Lauren Brewer finished the season a perfect 10-0 against Mid-South Conference opponents.
Sports editor’s note: All game information and statistics provided by Richmond’s GameChanger.
