With the heart of the region stretch upon them Richmond Hill took another positive step towards their goal of getting back to post season play by defeating McIntosh County Academy in a non-region game on Monday 14-2.
It was the Wildcats third win in a row and third double digit scoring outputs in as many games, good news to head coach Mitchell Curry as his team was preparing for a trip to second place Burke County.
"They (Burke) have a real good left hander, that I’m sure we will see, they have the same record as us and have beaten some good teams," said Curry of his teams next opponent. Richmond Hill is now 10-5, 2-1 and will now play six straight region 3S-AAA teams; how they fare during that stretch will determine their post season fate.
In Monday’s game senior Cameron Corbin got the start against the Buccaneers and pitched four solid innings to pick up his third win of the season against no losses. He gave way to leg cramps after facing one batter in the fifth and Dustin Mitchell pitched two scoreless innings of relief. Corbin scattered seven hits while striking out two and walking three batters.
The Wildcats’ 13 hit attack was more than enough offense to make Corbin’s job simple: throw strikes and let the defense play behind you. Richmond Hill also took advantage of MCA’s not following suit.
"Corbin pitched well today but I always tell them, hit the ball hard and good things will happen, we put the ball in play, a lot, and took advantage of some of their mistakes" said Curry afterward. A philosophy he is counting on his team to continue over the next few weeks.An error in the first inning helped set up Aaron Pittsley’s sacrifice fly to score the games first run. MCA would come back with two runs in the second inning to give them the lead, albeit a short lived one.
In the third a hit batsman and an error followed three straight singles from Corbin, John Johnson, and Matt Schlag. All three scored with the help of the error and out fielder Jeff Yeager’s sacrifice fly. The Wildcats had the lead back and the fabric of the Buccaneers thinly veiled defense tore a little more; it would allow another un-earned run in the next inning. It would be the Wildcats ripping at the cover of the ball in the fifth and sixth innings and they were all earned.
Richmond Hill greeted a new pitcher in the fifth with five hits and five runs. Jeremy Goolsby continued his good work at the plate by starting the hit parade with a single. He would finish the day 3 for 4 with a double. Alex Tucker followed with a single and Dustin Mitchell walked to bring Cameron Corbin to the plate.
Corbin, who also has been hot of late, drove in a pair with a single. He finished the day 3 for 5 with 3 RBI’s. Catcher John Johnson was next and had a single, he was 3 for 4 with a double and 4 RBI’s on the day. Third baseman Matt Schlag then doubled in two more runs. Schlag went 2 for 5 with the double and 3 RBI’s.
It was the same part of the line up that did the damage in the next inning scoring four runs and shortening the game to a six inning affair. Curry couldn’t have picked a better batting order if he did it with a crystal ball. Hopefully they will have saved some for Burke and their second chance at South Effingham.
Richmond Hill will travel to the Corral Friday April 13 for a 6 p.m. start against the Mustangs and be trying to avenge their 10-0 loss earlier. On Saturday they will host Hephzibah at 1 p.m., an Easter break schedule change. Then Tuesday April 17 they will travel to Liberty County, a 5:30 p.m. start.