As spring weather begins to return, so does baseball season at RMA. The varsity baseball team kicked off their season on Tuesday, March 10^th in perfect seventy degree weather. To add to this nice weather, the Eagles came out on top, with an 11-0 win over Halifax Academy.

The team went into their first game without having much practice together at all. Although Coach Smith started mandatory practice the day after basketball ended (and even managed to squeeze in a practice here or there throughout December and January), the team fought the brutal winter weather in the weeks leading up to their first game. Most days, they were forced to practice inside the gym because it was too cold outside or the field was too wet. However, Coach Smith still had his team working hard on batting, fielding motions, and pitching to ensure that they would be ready.

Senior Brandon Griffin started the game off pitching the first three innings, followed by senior Justin Hicks, and sophomore Reid Johnston closed out the game. All three pitchers showed great improvement from last season and each had multiple strike-outs, totaling twelve between them. The Eagles’ defense held their own, as no runs were allowed and no errors were given up the entire game.  Catcher Collin Richardson made the long throw to second base twice and both times the runners trying to steal second were called out. Overall, the entire team executed routine plays perfectly. Offensively, they proved to be just as strong, as there were thirteen total hits. In the first inning, Linwood Jones’ bomb to the fence gave him a triple, and Reid Johnston’s sacrifice fly that followed scored Jones to give the Eagles an early lead. sophomores Tyson Jones and Paul King shared three hits each to help the team out even more. By the bottom of the sixth inning, the Eagles were up 11-0, so the game was called in RMA’s favor.

The Eagles expect to have a very rewarding season, especially with the assistance of new players, seniors Jackson Browder, Landon Clontz, and Brice Andracchio. The team is planning on playing in the Faith Christian Tournament the weekend of the 13^th and then is set to take on St. Thomas Moore Tuesday, March 17^th. Be sure to come out and support the varsity baseball team!