The Richmond baseball team not only gave interim coach Jason Norton his first win on Thursday, but something else of importance following the game.

The Raiders handed Norton the game ball after they held off a late-inning rally from Charlotte Christian to win 6-3 in its season-opener at Raider Field.

“Those boys didn’t have to do that, but it was a kind gesture for them to do that for me,” Norton said. “It really meant a lot to me.”

Starter Ricky Holden delivered Norton the ball after gaining his first varsity victory. Holden pitched six and two-thirds innings, struck out 10, while giving up three runs on four hits and three walks.

“Coach Norton called really good pitches in the dugout,” Holden said. “I had good command of my curveball and changeup, which I felt really good and I was able to mix in my fastball in there as well.”

The Knights’ Sammy Fulginiti broke up Holden’s bid for a shutout in the top of the seventh with a two-run homer with one out to cut Richmond’s lead to 6-2.

After registering his final strikeout for the inning’s second out, Holden walked Justin Parker, and two wild pitches advanced him to third. Holden then walked Jake Watson before Norton called on shortstop Dylan Davenport to get the Raiders out of the inning.

“I was little mad to not be able to finish the game,” Holden said. “But I was getting a little tired and was leaving the ball up. My pitch count was getting a little high, and it wasn’t a bad move for Coach to take me out.”

Ty Linton’s RBI single off Davenport cut the deficit to 6-3, and the Knights had runners on first and second with the tying run at the plate.

Davenport coaxed Scott Glover to fly out to left to end the game.

“The thing about baseball is you’ve got to play seven innings and the game isn’t over until you get that third out,” Norton said. “I didn’t hesitate to go to Dylan and he closed it out for us. I feel comfortable going to any pitcher we’ve got. I want to point out to the fact that Ricky pitched a great game, and the kid is such a great competitor. We played good defense behind him and that’s something we’re going to hang our hats on all year.”

The Raiders pounded out seven hits in the contest. Brent Franklin led the way with two doubles in three at bats and scored three times. Franklin led off the bottom of the first with a double to center and later scored Richmond’s first run on a wild pitch from by Charlotte Christian starter Andy Clifford.

“I wanted to get off to a good start by putting the ball in play, and not striking out,” Franklin said. “As you can see, the rest of the players on the team followed up with hits.”

Richmond’s Mike Nichols, also went 2-for-3 with two doubles, three runs batted in and scored once. Nichols’ two-run double in the third made it 3-0.

The Raiders scored their final three runs in the fifth. Garrett McInnis, who was 2-for-2, led off with a single. After an out, Franklin reached on an error, Davenport struck out before Nichols slapped a double scoring McInnis. Sid Steen followed with a ground ball down to third, which Greg Williams was unable to field for an error allowing Franklin and Nichols to score the Raiders’ final runs.

“We swung the bats in clutched situation with guys like Mike Nichols coming up with some big hits,” Norton said. “To score six runs against a quality team like Charlotte Christian is huge. We can’t celebrate too long, and we’ve got to be ready for our next opponent.”

The Raiders return to action today against Weddington at Raider Field at 4:30 p.m.

Contact sports reporter Corey Davis at 997-3111, ext. 44; e-mail cdavis@yourdailyjournal.com