LAURINBURG — Head coach Rob Ransom called the Raiders’ regular-season finale against Scotland “one of the best games” the team played all season.
Carrying a one-run lead into the bottom of the fourth inning, Richmond Senior High School slipped late, and fell to the rival Scots 9-3.
The final game of the season started Friday evening, but after two lightning delays, it was rescheduled to resume Saturday at 11 a.m. Richmond and Scotland picked up in the top of the third inning with the Raiders holding a 1-0 lead.
“We had good momentum last night, and I think the restart really killed our momentum,” Ransom said. “In those first couple of innings, too, we left runners on base and that hurt us.
“But it was one of the best games we played all season,” he added. “Our chemistry was good, the guys played with a lot of energy and we didn’t commit any errors.”
Ransom noted, however, that too many walks to start the bottom of the sixth inning, coupled with a handful of hit-by-pitches, resulted in the Raiders coming apart late. Scotland scored its final six runs in the frame.
The Raiders’ first run came on Friday in the top of the second inning when junior infielder Alston Johnson hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Tagging on the play was sophomore Ethan Clayton, who drew a leadoff walk against pitcher Jackson Sellers.
After the Scots tied it in the home half of the third on Saturday, Richmond jumped ahead by a run in the top of the fourth. Junior infielder Cameron Way lifted a sacrifice fly to center off pitcher Parker Byrd, allowing freshman James Eason to score from third.
Eason, who made his varsity debut, went 3-for-3 at the plate with a pair of doubles. Ransom said Eason “had a huge day” for Richmond.
Trailing 3-2 in the top of the fifth, the Raiders’ final run of the season was scored on a passed ball. Junior catcher Colin Wheeler, who led off the inning with a single, raced home when a pitch skipped to the backstop to tie the game.
Freshman Camron Seagraves started on the mound for Richmond, throwing 3.1 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits. Juniors Way, Jude Howard and Will Dawkins combined to go the rest of the way.
The Raiders out-hit the Scots 10 to 6, using three from Eason and two from Wheeler. Also adding singles were Johnosn, Way, Clayton, junior Matthew Walker and freshman Ethan Locklear.
Richmond finished the regular season with a 5-9 overall record and a 4-8 mark against Sandhills Athletic Conference opponents, which was fifth in the standings.
Scotland (11-3, 10-2 SAC) placed second behind conference winner Pinecrest High School.
“I thought our guys grew up a lot this season, and it was a growing year for us,” Ransom said. “There were a lot of tough choices to be made and the guys showed good character. They toughed out the season and hung together, and I’m really proud of them.
“I think we’ll be a team to be reckoned with next year,” he added. “We have a bright future and a lot of good kids coming up.”
In 14 games this spring, Johnson led the way with a .381 batting average (minimum 20 at-bats). Way was second at .364, and both senior Tony Gathings (.308) and Walker (.304) hit above the .300 mark.
Johnson and Way collected 16 hits each, with two of Way’s going for home runs. Wheeler also added two longballs during the shortened season.
Walker’s 14 hits were third-best on the team. Way and Walker tied for the club lead with nine RBIs, senior Hunter Hancock had eight RBIs and Johnson brought home seven runs.
It will be a quick turnaround for many of the Raider players, as the Central Carolina Scholastic Summer League begins June 22. The Richmond Renegades will field a junior and senior team, open to rising eighth through 12th graders.
“Summer ball will give us an opportunity to play together and build team chemistry that will help our program grow,” Ransom closed. “And the kids seem really excited to get started.”
