ROCKINGHAM — Junior softball player Ryelan Lyerly has been named the Official Richmond County Female Athlete of the Week presented by HWY 55.
A strong performance at the plate by Lyerly in two games last week resulted in two more wins and helped the Lady Raider softball team improve to 6-0 to start the season.
Having a breakout season for Richmond, and part of a high-powered offense, Lyerly earned her first career recognition.
Athletic Profile
Year: Junior
Spring Sport: Softball
Position: Second Base
Years on Varsity: 2 years
“DRIVING IN RUNS” WITH RYELAN LYERLY
The Lady Raiders started the week at home last Tuesday against Sandhills Athletic Conference opponent Hoke County High School, followed by a trip to non-conference Montgomery Central High School on Thursday.
In those two victories, Lyerly batted 5-for-7 at the plate (.714 batting average) with two singles, a double and two home runs. She drove in a team-best six RBIs between those two games, and led the team in slugging percentage (1.714) and on-base plus slugging percentage (2.249).
Against the Lady Bucks, Richmond rolled to a 12-2 win in five innings. Lyerly was 3-for-3 with a double and a home run, and was one of three players with three RBIs.
In the first inning, Lyerly drove in teammates Makayla Parks and Macy Steen with a one-out double to left field. She later scored on a fielder’s choice, part of a big inning that gave Richmond a 7-1 lead.
A single in the second by Lyerly later resulted in another run by her, scoring on a Kady Harris single to make it 9-1.
On a 1-0 offering in her third at-bat in the fourth inning, Lyerly skied a solo home run over the wall in center field.
Richmond followed that win with a 9-1 victory over Montgomery Central. Going 2-for-4 at the dish, Lyerly recorded a team-high three RBIs and scored two runs.
With the Lady Raiders leading 4-1 in the top of the fourth, Lyerly reached safely for the first time on an infield single, moving Parks to third. Two batters later, Lyerly scored on a passed ball to put Richmond ahead 6-1.
At the plate again with two on and two outs in the top of the sixth, Lyerly dug in and hit a moonshot three-run blast over the wall in left.
Through six games this spring, Lyerly is the team’s RBI leader with 13 runs driven in and slugging percentage (1.105). She’s also tied with Parks for the team lead in homers with three.
Six of Lyerly’s nine hits have gone for extra bases and her .474 batting average is third among Richmond’s batters with at least 15 at-bats.
Richmond (6-0, 3-0 SAC) will start another three-game week on Monday at home against non-conference Marlboro County High School, starting at 7 p.m.
RAPID RESPONSE VIDEO WITH RYELAN LYERLY
In her interview, Lyerly talks about her offensive production, the team’s undefeated start and explains her love for the game.
The Richmond Observer will publish its Official Richmond County Male Athlete of the Week soon.
