ROCKINGHAM — An early back-and-forth battle during Thursday’s season opener didn’t hold up in the later innings for the Richmond Senior High School softball team.
Dusting up the diamond for the first time this spring, the Lady Raiders suffered a 10-6 loss to North Moore High School.
The non-conference game was also the head coaching debut for Caroline Wilson, a 2016 graduate of Richmond and former Lady Raider softball player.
Richmond held a two-run lead after the first inning, but allowed the Lady Mustangs to score nine runs before answering with its final three runs across the final three frames.
Wilson expressed her pleasure with the team’s fast start, but added that one hiccup in the game was being unable to move runners in across the plate. Richmond stranded seven base runners in the loss.
“We came out strong and got three runs in the first inning,” Wilson said. “We were aggressive at the plate and on the bases and that worked in our favor.
“The three-run home run in the second inning stung a little, but our girls didn’t hang their heads. I’m proud of them for that. Our biggest thing tonight was that we left too many runners on base instead of executing and bringing them home.
“That’s something to work on moving forward,” she added. “Overall, I’m very proud of the team for staying in the game and fighting back with a couple of runs late.”
Senior pitcher Madelynn Pearson made the start in the circle and threw 3.2 innings. She allowed nine runs (five earned) on eight hits and struck out three batters.
North Moore took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Richmond answered with three runs in the home half.
Junior Hayden Robinson, who finished the game with two hits and a team-high three runs batted in, gave Richmond a 2-1 lead with a two-RBI single back up the middle. Scoring on the play were senior Trinity Lockhart (error) and Pearson (single).
Robinson moved up to second on the throw home, which allowed her to later score when senior Mikayla English beat out an infield single between first and second base to make it a 3-1 lead.
With two outs in the top of the second, the Lady Mustangs took the lead for good when Haley Havner hit a three-run homer over the left-center wall.
North Moore added a run in the top of the third and scored five runs in the top of the fourth to make it a 10-3 deficit for the Lady Raiders.
After the final run in the top of the fourth was scored, freshman Mackenzie Quick entered the game in the circle. Making her high school debut, Quick threw three consecutive strikes to record her first strikeout to end the big inning.
“(North Moore) had seen (Pearson) for four innings and they numbered her,” Wilson said of the middle innings. “It was time for a pitching change and we brought Mackenzie in, and it was a really good decision.”
Richmond’s next run came in the bottom of the fifth frame when Robinson roped an RBI double down the line into the left field corner. Scoring from first was senior Jakayla Steele, who reached base safely earlier on a fielder’s choice.
Quick was efficient in her 3.1 innings of work. She stranded three base runners and recorded five strikeouts, while putting up zeroes in the hit and run columns.
The Lady Raiders attempted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh. Robinson drew a leadoff base-on-balls and scored when sophomore Kalynn McCormick reached safely on an error.
A base hit from English put two runners on base with no outs. Junior Kinsie Lyerly delivered with a laser of an RBI double to the alley in left-center, plating McCormick.
English was tagged out at the plate trying to score on the play and Lyerly was doubled off when she attempted to move to third on the throw home.
Richmond tallied 10 hits in the loss to North Moore’s eight hits. Robinson, English and Steele all had two hits, while Lockhart, Pearson, Quick, Lyerly and sophomore Jorja Moore each had one hit.
The Lady Raiders (0-1) play again Friday on the road at Montgomery Central High School (2-0). The non-conference game will start at 6 p.m.
Sports editor’s note: The Richmond junior varsity softball team didn’t play Thursday. The Richmond Observer will publish a photo gallery of Thursday’s game later this week.
Sports editor's note: A correction was made regarding the hits in Thursday's game at 10:59 p.m. 02/27/25
