ROCKINGHAM — Cody Leviner didn’t receive too much advice before making his first career start for Richmond Senior.
“They told me to go as far as I could,” Leviner said.
Leviner did just that, going the distance for the Raiders, allowing four hits in six innings to pick up the complete game victory in a 10-0 shutout of Hoke County Friday night at Raider Field.
“Cody pitched great,” Richmond coach Ricky Young said. “He’s been pitching in some big situations for us this season, but I didn’t have a chance to start him until tonight and he throws a shutout in his first career start.”
Leviner’s night wasn’t without a few bumps on the road and the sophomore needed some assistance from his defense to preserve the shutout.
In the second, Leviner surrendered a leadoff double and after a sacrifice bunt, he issued a base on balls. Leviner escaped unscathed by coaxing Dan Barrington to ground into a 5-4-3 double play.
Two innings later, Hoke, once again, had runners on first and third, this time with two outs. Jacob Rushing appeared to rip a line drive into left for a run-scoring single, but Richmond shortstop Drew Butler made a leaping grab for the final out.
“I didn’t pitch too well tonight,” Leviner said. “My defense really helped me out.”
Richmond (6-1, 1-0) managed seven hits in the win, but took advantage of five Hoke errors in the contest. All of the miscues were throwing errors made because of the Raiders’ aggressiveness on the basepaths. Richmond finished with seven stolen bases in the contest, including Jeremy Smith’s swipe of home.
“I thought we hit the ball hard, but they made some good plays,” Young said. “Our running game was the difference tonight.”
Richmond will return to action 1 p.m. today when it takes on New Hanover in Wilmington.
In other SEC action Friday, Pinecrest knocked off Lumberton, 4-1.
Richmond routs Hoke
ROCKINGHAM — Hunter Parks led Richmond Senior with her hitting and pitching in an 11-2 Southeastern Conference win over Hoke County Friday night.
Parks smashed a three-run home run in the first inning and limited the Bucks to three hits in the pitching circle.
“Hunter pitched a great game and got ahead early,” Richmond coach Wendy Wallace said.
Parks finished with three hits and four runs batted in. Elizabeth Pittman went 4-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs and Summer Jacobs added three hits in four at-bats as Richmond notched 19 hits total.
“The girls well played well tonight,” Wallace said. “I was glad to see the hits spread throughout the team and we scored in multiple innings.”
Richmond (4-2, 1-0) will return to action 7 p.m. Tuesday when it travels to Purnell Swett in a conference clash.
— Sports editor Shawn Stinson can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 14, or by email at sstinson@civitasmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @scgolfer.
Post a Comment
