WAXHAW — Showing its grit during its season opener Wednesday, the Richmond Senior High School baseball team hung tough with a quality opponent.
The Raiders began the 2025 campaign on the road at Marvin Ridge High School, a third-round playoff team last spring, and lost 4-0.
Playing a one-run game for a majority of the night, Richmond allowed three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Head coach Eric Brown noted the game was closer than the score indicated and that he was impressed by the Raiders’ fight through all seven innings.
“Overall, I’m really proud of our players,” Brown said. “(Marvin Ridge) is a really good team, but I think we’re pretty good, too. The way we played tonight was a really good sign.
“Jason (Walker) was outstanding on the mound and our defense was really good. The first mistake we made was in the sixth. If we make a throw back to the pitcher and a catch in left, I think it’s still a 1-0 game at that point.
“We had really good at-bats,” Brown added of the offense. “Their arms were pretty good, but we battled. And I’ll take that every night.”
Walker, a senior right-hander, got the start on the hill and pitched 5.1 innings. He allowed three earned runs on four hits and struck out six Mavericks (three looking).
Efficient throughout his first start, Walker recorded 1-2-3 innings in the first and third frames, the latter of which saw him punch out the side in order on 14 pitches.
Walker had two four-batter innings in the fourth and fifth frames, which ended both times in stranding a runner.
Marvin Ridge (2-0) scored its first run in the bottom of the second inning on a two-out RBI single to left field following a walk and a base hit.
That score would hold until the bottom of the sixth, although Richmond had several offensive opportunities to score.
The Raiders stranded two base runners in the top of the first inning and a baserunning mistake in both the second and third innings cost an out.
Richmond’s best opportunity to score came in the top of the fifth when Walker skied a one-out single to right field and senior Landon Taylor knocked his second base hit of the game through the right side of the infield in the next at-bat.
With two runners on and one out, junior Evan Hodges tattooed a line drive in the right-center gap, but it was tracked down for an out. A strikeout ended the inning and stranded two more runners.
Marvin Ridge plated its three runs in the bottom of the sixth as a result of a couple base hits and two fielding mistakes by Richmond.
Walker was replaced with one away in the inning by freshman Devin Haynes. In his high school debut, Haynes faced three batters to record the final two outs, allowing an unearned run on two hits with a strikeout.
The Raiders collected four hits in the game, led by Taylor’s two singles from the leadoff spot. Walker and Hodges each had a single.
“I’m excited for us to get on the field again,” Brown closed. “These guys showed up tonight and proved they’re ready to play.
“We’re at home Friday against another really good team. It’ll be a little gut-check for us early to see if we can bounce back and play another good game.”
The Raiders (0-1) continue their three-game opening week Friday in their home opener against non-conference Porter Ridge High School (1-0). First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at Raider Field.
Sports editor’s note: The Richmond Observer will publish photos of Wednesday’s season opener later this week.
