SHALLOTTE — Needing three outs with a one-run lead Wednesday, the Richmond Senior High School baseball team wasn’t able to sweep its spring break competition.
The Raiders and head coach Eric Brown finished the Beach Diamond Invitational as the tournament’s runner-up after suffering a one-run loss to undefeated West Stanly High School.
Leading 4-3 after six innings, a four-run top of the seventh inning resulted in a 7-6 loss for the Raiders.
Richmond, which attempted a rally in the final half inning with two runs and left the tying run at third base and the winning run at second base, finished second overall of the eight teams in the tournament hosted by West Brunswick High School.
Three Raiders were named to the All-Beach Diamond Invitational team — seniors Evan Hodges and Caden Nolan, along with sophomore Devin Haynes.
Haynes and Nolan were the winning pitchers in Richmond’s first two games against Southern Nash and West Brunswick high schools, respectively.
Hodges started Wednesday’s title game and pitched 6.0 innings, leaving only after reaching the pitch count. He hosed eight batters on strikes and allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits.
Across the three-game invitational, Hodges batted .667 (6-for-9) with five singles, a double and five runs batted in. Nolan was 4-for-9 (.444) with a double, two RBI and three runs scored.
The three players combined for 19 innings on the mound and allowed just four runs (two earned) and struck out a total of 27 batters. Hodges and Nolan each recorded 10 Ks.
Following one of the more contentious meetings with an opponent this season, Brown reflected on the one-run loss by crediting the Raiders for their no-quit attitude.
“Our guys went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the state and gave them everything they could handle,” Brown said. “They played their hearts out. They showed what they’re about tonight: toughness, resiliency and selflessness.
“I could not be any prouder to be their coach. Richmond County should be proud of its baseball team.”
Starting the top of the seventh on the mound for Richmond was junior Tristan Chavis. Unable to record an out, he allowed two earned runs.
Senior Maddox Locklear pitched the one inning of relief and got the Raiders back in the dugout. He gave up two unearned runs on a hit and had one strikeout.
Facing the Colts’ (17-0) top pitcher in Samuel Carpenter, Richmond’s bats hit him all over the field. The Raiders scored four earned runs against him in five innings and had six hits, including a double by Nolan.
Facing reliever Brodie Smith in the final two innings, Richmond didn’t have a hit but used free passes to score two unearned runs.
The Raiders struck early to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Freshman leadoff batter Julius Bowden reached on a single, one of his two hits, and later scored from second base when Nolan connected for a double to the alley in left-center.
West Stanly loaded the bases in the top of the second and took a 3-1 lead on a passed ball and a two-RBI single.
Richmond answered back with its own three-run half of the third to retake the lead 4-3.
A single by sophomore Drew McCaskill to start the inning saw him move to second on a steal and third base thanks to a sacrifice bunt by senior Jake Veach. Bowden came through a couple pitches later with an RBI base knock to score McCaskill.
Tying the game, Bowden stole second and moved to third and home plate safely thanks to a pair of wild pitches by Carpenter. Locklear, who drew a walk, also scored on an errant pitch to the backstop to make it a one-run advantage for the Raiders with two outs.
Hodges was “lights out,” according to Brown, after the hiccup of a second inning. He faced four batters in the fourth, sat the Colts down in order in the fifth, and stranded two runners in scoring position in the sixth.
Chavis walked the first two batters in the top of the seventh and was replaced by Locklear. West Stanly scored its four runs on an error, a safety squeeze and a two-RBI single.
Richmond’s comeback attempt started with one gone in the final half inning, as Locklear (hit-by-pitch), Nolan (walk) and Hodges (walk) loaded the bases.
Junior Drew Gause helped bring in the two runs when he reached on an error, which scored Locklear and Nolan to make it 7-6.
With Hodges representing the tying run at third and Gause playing the winning run at second after stealing the bag, Richmond’s effort ended on a strikeout and a groundout to the next two batters.
Bowden and Hodges each had two hits, followed by one hit each from Nolan and McCaskill.
With nearly a week off between games to enjoy the remainder of spring break, the Raiders (12-4, 8-1 Mid-South Conference) will open a two-game series with Hoke County High School.
The first game will be at Hoke County (8-7, 5-4 MSC) Tuesday, followed by a home game Friday. Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m.
