Richmond’s Rhys Terry fires a pitch to a Searsport batter during a Class D South semifinal baseball game Monday in Richmond. Rhys struck out nine batters as the Bobcats beat the Vikings 5-0. Dave Dyer/Kennebec Journal
RICHMOND — The Richmond baseball team is back in the Class D South final.
Thanks to a strong start at the plate and a lights-out performance on the mound from pitcher Rhys Terry, the No. 2 Bobcats beat No. 3 Searsport 5-0 in a regional semifinal Monday afternoon.
For the first time since 2021, the Bobcats (15-1) will be playing in the D South championship game, and against a familiar foe: No. 1 Saint Dominic Academy (16-2). It has been the two-time defending Class D champion Saints who have knocked the Bobcats out of the playoffs the past two seasons, both times in the semifinal round. The teams play at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Larry Mahaney Diamond on the campus or Saint Joseph’s College in Standish.
“It’s great (to be back in the regional final), we’ve missed it the last couple of years,” Richmond head coach Ryan Gardner said. “We came 90 feet away last year, and an inning away the year before that, and against the same team that did that to us. But that’s been our focus over the year, and I’m sure it’s been theirs.”
The Bobcats last won the Class D title in 2018 with an 11-0 win over Fort Fairfield.
Drew Bagley had the lone hit for the Vikings (10-7) while pitcher Ashton Ellis struck out 11 batters over six innings, allowing just five hits.
Richmond scored all five of its runs in the first two innings. First baseman Zander Steele knocked a pitch from Ellis about 300 feet over the right field wall for a solo home run to give Richmond a 1-0 lead.
“Oh I knew it immediately, I knew it was gone,” said Steele, a junior who went 1 for 2 at the plate. “I watched it a little bit, then (knew) it was a home run. It was awesome.”
The Bobcats added four more runs in the second, highlighted by a two-run single by third baseman Kenny Meachum, to give Richmond its 5-0 lead.
That was all Terry, a junior, needed on the mound. In 6 1/3 innings, Terry allowed just one hit while striking out nine batters.
“That’s what we wanted, we wanted the shutout, and (Terry) came out firing,” Steele said.
Terry walked seven, but never truly got into a dangerous jam, and he was backed by solid defense throughout, specifically from Meachum and shortstop Wyatt Cassidy.
“The defense made plays for (Terry),” Gardner said. “Wyatt Cassidy made a couple of great plays, Meachum plays a great third. Our whole left side is pretty solid, we don’t make many errors.”
Richmond will have a quick turnaround to prepare for St. Dom’s, but the team is looking forward to another playoff matchup with the Saints.
“We’re ready, we’re ready to deliver,” Steele said. “We’ve got some fire right now, so we’ll bring it (Tuesday), play it against them and see how it goes.”
“We’ve got momentum, too,” added Gardner. “Do you rather go out and (immediately) play or wait after a win?”
Monday was the last game for Searsport head coach John Frye, who is stepping down after 12 seasons, citing health reasons. Frye led the Vikings to five Class D titles, including a three-peat from 2015-2017. The school named its athletic complex after Frye during the regular season.
“It’s been amazing,” said Frye, who will coach one more season of soccer for the school in the fall before stepping away completely. “To win five state championships, it’s been a great 12 years. A lot of great kids and great times.”
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