Rici Richmond was working on her changeup during Homewood-Flossmoor’s March 24 game versus TF South.
So even as Red Wolves’ sophomore Izzy Sprehe’s pulled pitch after pitch foul and out of play, and the pitch count for the at bat reached double digits, Richmond continued to throw the change. Eventually, Sprehe flew out to left field.
“I’m throwing a changeup and I’m trying to work on it. I need to get my speed slower,” the Vikings sophomore said. “It was good that she was ripping it but I had to eventually throw her a fastball to get her out.”
Richmond was effective all day, even if the aim was more about improving one pitch than it was about getting hitters out. She threw all five innings, striking out five, walking two and allowing three hits in a 13-1 H-F victory.
“She’s young,” coach Larry Dawson said. “She’s got some growing to do but she’s really humble and always willing to learn.”
The extra work on the changeup seemed to pay off, Richmond said.
“They were low and slower,” she said. “It got more consistent and that’s what I needed.”
Richmond isn’t just a pitcher. She’ll likely play a few innings behind the plate, in the outfield and at second base this season, too.
“She’ll only get better, not only at pitching but at every position we put her,” Dawson said. “She’ll do a lot of good things for us.”
In fact, Richmond’s first concern is her ability at the plate.
“I just want to keep a high batting average. I take batting really seriously. That’s my specialty,” she said. “It’s not even about hitting a double sometimes. It’s just about getting on base. If you can consistently get on base then you’re doing your job.”
She had a pair of slap hits against TF South. Slap hitting is something she picked up last year at the urging of H-F assistant coach Shannon Mills.
“I was working a hard slap because normally I short slap. I short slap to get on base,” Richmond said. “I’m always a slap hitter. I don’t remember the last time I went in the box and I just swung away.”
The Vikings did damage up and down the order. Izzy Thurman was 2-2, including a triple, and had two RBIS. Sophomore Taylor Purchas had two runs and two stolen bases in two plate appearances. Demi Chaney, Macy Hamer, Charlotte Will, McKenzie Weber, Dakota Hoekstra, Kathleen Karner, Gabby Browder and Caiya Gilbert each drove in runs, as well.
H-F improved to 4-2 with the win. They have games against Plainfield Central and Oak Forest before beginning the SouthWest Suburban Conference schedule against Lincoln-Way West on April 6.
