ROCKINGHAM — A pair of three-run innings helped the Richmond Senior High School junior varsity baseball team avenge a loss from earlier in the week against Pinecrest High School on Friday.
Playing at home, the JV Raiders defeated the JV Patriots 8-4, and improved their overall record to 3-1 on the spring.
Sophomore pitcher Walker Lambeth pitched 5.1 innings in the win, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits, while also striking out eight batters.
Fellow sophomore Ashton Phifer made his first appearance on the mound this season, going the final 1.2 innings. He gave up just one unearned run on one hit and earned two strikeouts.
“We were much better with our fundamentals throughout the entire game,” head coach Corey Wallace said. “We also did a lot of good things with our mindsets coming to the plate and understanding the situations and getting the job done.
“Walker pitched a great game and he kept the ball down and competed every pitch,” he added. “Ashton did well in relief, especially for not having thrown in a game in over a year.”
Trailing 1-0 after the top of the first, the JV Raiders tacked on three runs. Lambeth drew a one-out walk and later scored when freshman Isaac Hinshaw hit an RBI single to center.
Freshman Isaac Hinshaw (14) connects for an RBI single in Friday’s win. (Hannah Hinshaw)
A Pinecrest error allowed sophomore Ethan Clayton (double) to score an at-bat later, and Hinshaw capped the inning by swiping home.
Richmond extended its lead to 5-1 with two more runs in the bottom of the third. Sophomore Ethan Locklear recorded an RBI on a ground out to short, plating Clayton (single), and a sacrifice fly by Damon Bryant brought home Hinshaw (walk).
Pinecrest added a run in the fifth, but the Raiders responded with three more runs in the home half. Bryant started with an RBI single to center, scoring Hinshaw (error), and Phifer added to the lead with an RBI on a fielder’s choice, which plated Bryant.
With two outs, Lambeth was plunked by a pitch with the bases loaded, allowing sophomore Jullian Cline (walk) to trot home safely.
An error and a passed ball resulted in the JV Patriots’ final two runs in the sixth, but Nate Kallgrea was tagged out by catcher Cain Hunsucker while trying to steal home.
Freshman Cain Hunsucker applies a tag to Nate Kallgrea to end the sixth inning. (Hannah Hinshaw)
The JV Raiders collected nine hits, including two each from Clayton and freshman James Eason. Bryant, Hinshaw, Lambeth, Phifer and sophomore Bryce Goodwin all had singles.
Locklear and Bryant led the way with two RBIs apiece, while Hinshaw, Lambeth and Phifer all plated one run. Hinshaw scored a team-high three runs.
Richmond will return to the diamond on Tuesday with a home game against Jack Britt High School, starting at 4:30 p.m.
