ROCKINGHAM — The toughest rivalry in Richmond County middle school sports took place Wednesday afternoon, as Rockingham Middle School hosted Hamlet Middle School on the baseball and softball diamonds.
Rockingham would go on to sweep Hamlet, as the Rocket baseball team run-ruled the Red Rams and the Lady Rockets came from behind to hold off the Lady Red Rams.
With the wins, both Rockingham teams secured sole possession of second place in the Southeastern Middle School Athletic Conference standings behind leader Carver Middle School.
Rockets mercy-rule Red Rams to secure second place
Eighth grade pitcher Walker Lambeth was lights out against the Red Rams, pitching a complete game and striking out seven batters, as the Rockets rolled to a 13-3 win in five innings. During his last outing, Lambeth also threw a complete game one-hitter against Sandy Grove Middle School.
Damon Bryant was 3-for-4 at the plate for Rockingham, and teammates James Eason and Isaac Hinshaw both collected two hits in the win.
Lambeth helped his cause with a base knock in his four at-bats, while Shoan Hodges and Zane Searcy each went 1-for-2. Searcy had two RBIs to help defeat the Red Rams.
On the hill for Hamlet (6-2) was Ethan Locklear, who started and went 3.2 innings. He was relieved by Jason Walker, who finished the game’s final 1.1 innings. Alan Taylor went 1-for-1 with a big hit to lead off the third inning.
Hamlet head coach Josh Peele said “errors and passed balls crippled our chances.”
Head coach Jamie McDonald and the Rockets improved to 7-1 on the season and will head to Anson Middle School Orange on Monday in the season finale. First pitch is at 4 p.m.
Hamlet fell to 6-2 and will host Cordova on Monday at 4 p.m.
Lady Rockets use big sixth inning to secure win
Heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Lady Rockets and head coach Morgan Davis were trailing the Lady Red Rams 3-0. But all of that would change before the frame was over, as Rockingham plated six runs en route to a 6-3 win.
Seventh grader Savanna Mullins pitched all seven innings, with Davis commenting she “pitched a great game.” Mullins sat down 12 Lady Red Rams on strikes.
Eighth grader Macy Steen was the leading batter for Rockingham, going 2-for-3 with a single and a triple, while also picking up three RBIs. Eighth graders Ashton Alexander and Allie Miller both chipped in with base hits during the sixth inning, and each recorded one RBI.
Rounding out the come-from-behind win was Keyoni Nichols, who went 1-for-2 with a double, and Sydney Smith, who was 1-for-4.
“It was a great team win,” Davis said. “I’m very proud of my girls for their fight.”
Hamlet’s pitcher Quston Leviner walked in three runs and gave up three more runs on Steen’s triple. No other stats were provided for Hamlet’s batters.
The Lady Rockets improved to 6-1 and will host Anson Orange Monday at 4 p.m. Hamlet is now 6-2 and will host Cordova on Monday at 4 p.m.
