ROCKINGHAM — It was only a matter of time before Richmond junior varsity softball coach Casey Campolieta knew her team would start putting things together.
The JV Lady Raiders earned their first win of the season Friday at home against Jack Britt High School, defeating the Lady Buccaneers 9-7.
After falling to the Lady Bucs earlier in the week, sophomore pitcher Kearston Bruce threw a complete game to earn the win, striking out 10 batters in the process. Bruce recently joined the JV squad to assist the team with pitching.
“This was a big win,” Campolieta said. “I know it has given the girls confidence, and I hope they take this energy and run with it.”
Having a big night at the plate was freshman first baseman Taylor Young, who went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. Fellow freshman Hayley McCormick also safely crossed the plate twice, while also collecting two hits.
Other Lady Raiders to contribute in the win were freshman Kirsten Gibson and sophomore Shyann Byrd. Gibson batted 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Byrd knocked two singles in her three at-bats.
Now 1-5 on the season, the JV Lady Raiders will look to keep things going when they travel to Hoke County High School on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.
JV Raider baseball splits with Jack Britt
The JV Raider baseball team also split with Jack Britt, taking the road game Tuesday before falling at home on Friday.
In the first matchup, the Raiders rolled past the Buccaneers 14-7, with freshman Harley Honeycutt earning the win on the mound. Fellow freshman JD Lampley relieved Honeycutt in the fifth inning to close out the night.
Richmond scored all of its runs in the first three innings.
“I brought some of the younger guys in to get them some work,” head coach Ralph Butler said. “And then we kind of let (Jack Britt) back in the game a little.”
Freshman Alston Johnson went 3-for-4 at the dish and also scored three runs. Lampley went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and freshman Colin Wheeler knocked two hits in his four at-bats, including a double and three RBIs. Cameron Way rounded this out, going 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored.
Hosting the Bucs on Friday, Richmond lost just its second game of the spring 6-4.
“The story of the game was not preventing the big inning, which is something we emphasize a lot,” Butler said. “It’s tough to lose a game when you outplay the other team for six innings and they outplay you in one and they win.”
Sophomore Michael Pettitt started the game on the hill, but “too many errors on routine plays” behind him led to five runs in the fifth inning for Jack Britt. Way came in and finished the night pitching.
“Offensively, we just left too many runners on base,” Butler said. “We had our opportunities but couldn’t capitalize.”
Way had a double to lead off the third inning, and eventually scored on a Wheeler RBI single. Wheeler also had an RBI double an inning later, but Richmond couldn’t make the comeback happen.
Like the JV Lady Raiders, the baseball team will travel to Hoke County on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
