RICHMOND — Richmond High School baseball coach Ryan Gardner has stayed patient. Even as he watches his team struggle at the plate with runners in scoring position, in the field while trying to catch the ball and throw to the right base while the losses add up, now nine in 10 games, the coach remains positive.

“They’re not quitting,” said Gardner.

A few problems hurt the Bobcats in Thursday’s 11-0 East-West Conference loss to 4-4 Valley. First off, Cavaliers starting pitcher Cody Laweryson made the pitches when he needed to, hurling six shutout innings on four hits, two walks and eight strikeouts.

Plus, Richmond had trouble getting out of innings once two outs were recorded, as well as the pesky issue of not hitting with men in scoring position.

In the first inning, Josh West doubled with one out. Seth Malloy’s two-out double gave Valley a 1-0 lead, and Carrington Miller’s RBI single two pitches later made it a 2-0 contest before Richmond got in its first swings.

With the Cavaliers up 8-0 in the seventh frame, a hit batter started a threerun inning, with two consecutive two-out singles bringing home the final runs.

Richmond starting pitcher Tyler Harrington shook off the two-run, four-hit Valley first inning, holding the Cavaliers scoreless in the second frame with two strikeouts.

However, Valley pushed a run across in the third. Dylan Belanger singled and Malloy walked to open the inning. A sacrifice bunt by Miller moved the runners up a base. Gardner brought his infield in, but Matt Hunnewell blooped a single to right field.

Belanger’s RBI single plated Caleb Wade in the fourth, and the Cavaliers put this one away with a four-run fifth. Richmond made two costly errors to help Valley keep the inning going, and two more bloop singles with the Bobcats’ infielders pulled in allowed Laweryson and Justin Miller to each pick up an RBI.

“For some reason, they get a few bloops, putting the game out of reach, and that limits what we do best — smallball,” said Gardner, who watched Harrington’s frustration get the better of him when he laid out Carrington Miller on a soft groundball to end the fifth. Harrington was ejected and will not available for the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader at Forest Hills.

Needing a hit

Three times in the first five innings, Richmond left two runners on base, eight in all, including six in scoring position.

“We hang around, hang around, but we never get that big hit,” said Gardner of his team’s struggles at the plate.

Hunnewell, who was 4-for-5, picked up his second and third RBIs of the contest in the seventh to complete the scoring. Harrington and reliever Jason Patterson combined to allow 15 hits and five walks with seven strikeouts.

After the contest, Gardner brought his frustrated Bobcats together, reminding them to keep their heads up and keep fighting. Despite the 1-9 record, Richmond sits in fifth place in the Western Maine Class D Heal Point Standings, with the top six making the postseason.

“They are still up and realize there are still points available, with us just trying to get in where all the records are washed,” said Gardner. “We have the third-place team on Saturday (doubleheader at Forest Hills, noon), and two games with the team battling us for the last spot, Rangeley (May 25). I told them it’s all in front of you, and you control your own destiny.”

West, Belanger and Laweryson had two hits apiece for Valley. Belanger pitched the seventh, picking up three strikeouts and walking one.

Richmond finished with four hits, two off the bat of Gage Myrick, was 2-for-3.

Valley 11, Richmond 0
At Richmond High School

Valley — 201 140 3 — 11-15-1
Richmond — 000 000 0 — 0-4-3

Cody Laweryson, Dylan Belanger (7) and Dylan Belanger, Cody Laweryson (7); Tyler Harrington, Jason Patterson (6).

Doubles — (V) Josh West, Seth Malloy.

Repeat hitters — (V) Matt Hannawell (4), Josh West, Dylan Belanger, Cody Laweryson.

Records — Valley 4-4, Richmond 1-9.

Next for the Bobcats — Saturday at Forest Hills for doubleheader. The first game begins at noon.

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