SANFORD — The Richmond Senior baseball team pounded out 12 hits to rout Southern Lee 13-1 in five innings in the semifinals of the Cavaliers’ tournament Friday night.
Jeremy Smith led the onslaught with four hits, including a double, and two runs batted in. Austin Brower went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double and four RBIs. Bradley Brown was 2-of-3 with a double and two RBIs.
Richmond starter Ryan Mercer limited Southern Lee to two hits to pick up the complete-game victory. He stuck out six and allowed an unearned run.
“I had my fastball and changeup working and the defense made plays behind me,” Mercer said. “I gave up a bunt single and that rattled me a little bit in the fourth.”
Mercer also added a two-run home run in the victory.
“It was a first-pitch fastball,” Mercer said about the home run. “My first at-bat I got hit by a pitch and he walked me on four straight pitches in my second at-bat, so I thought he would try to get ahead.”
The 13 runs were the most by the Raiders this season.
“I thought we had some good swings yesterday,” Richmond coach Ricky Young said. “They were much more relaxed at the plate today.”
Richmond will play in the championship contest at 7 p.m. today at Southern Lee against the winner of the Pinecrest-Union Pines game.
— Sports editor Shawn Stinson can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 14, or by email at sstinson@heartlandpublications.com
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