Richard Bland Welcomes Patrick Henry Friday (April 21) At 2:30 p.m.
SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE, Va. -- Richard Bland College will welcome Region 10 and in-state opponent Patrick Henry Community College for a softball doubleheader on Friday, April 21 at 2:30 p.m. at the RBC Softball Field. The Statesmen are 18-18 overall, 12-7 in Region 10, currently in fourth place among the seven region schools competing in the sport. The Patriots are 4-16 overall, 4-12 in Region 10, currently in sixth place. It will be Hodgkin's Lymphoma Awareness Day in support of former Statesmen Tiffany Hedge and her fight against Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
Scouting the Statesmen
Richard Bland is 18-18 overall after sweeping a region doubleheader past visiting Surry (N.C.) Community College on April 15 (7-6, 9-3). The Statesmen, who received votes in this week's NJCAA Division II Poll, are coached by head coach Katy Lampman, who is in her first season, while assisted by first-year assistant coaches Cassidy Clayton, Pete Berrios and Danielle Beverly.
Through 36 games, Richard Bland has been led offensively by sophomore Tabby Dabney/Mechanicsville, who is hitting .464 with nine home runs, one triple, 13 doubles, 41 runs, 44 RBIs and five stolen bases. Dabney is followed by freshmen Taylor Daniel/Alberta (.431, 1 3B, 7 2Bs, 35 Rs, 14 RBIs, 3 SBs), Ashley Fritz/North Chesterfield (.414, 3 3Bs, 9 2Bs, 19Rs, 21 RBIs, 1 SB), Brooklynn Bilyard/Culpeper (.402, 5 HRs, 11 2Bs, 29 Rs, 35 RBIs, 9 SBs), Kay'Lee Justice/Suffolk (.396, 7 HRs, 2 3Bs, 13 2Bs, 34 Rs, 40 RBIs, 2 SBs) and Kara Morris/Kents Store (.361, 1 3B, 3 2Bs, 27 Rs, 9 RBIs, 5 SBs), along with sophomores Katelyn King/Chesterfield (.349, 2 HRs, 1 3B, 6 2Bs, 30 Rs, 20 RBIs, 3 SBs) and August Ringer/Yale (.316, 2 3Bs, 26 Rs, 6 RBIs, 6 SBs). The squad is hitting an impressive .365 with 27 home runs, 11 triples, 82 doubles and 240 RBIs, while scoring 8.1 runs per game. The totals for home runs and doubles are new program records.
The Statesmen pitching staff has been led by Brooklynn Bilyard, along with Tabby Dabney and sophomore Shannon Buffington/Virginia Beach. Bilyard is 5-2 with a 4.23 earned run average and 52 strikeouts over 51.1 innings with four complete games in 14 appearances, including nine starts and one save. Dabney is 5-6 with a 4.46 ERA and 43 strikeouts over 69.0 innings with five complete games in 17 appearances, including 12 starts. Buffington is 5-9 with a 4.54 ERA and 35 strikeouts over 78.2 innings with seven complete games in 20 appearances, including 15 starts. The team ERA is 4.41 with 137 strikeouts over 214.1 innings.
Series History
Richard Bland and Patrick Henry are playing for the 17th and 18th times in the sport of softball, and the Statesmen lead the series 14-2, including 11-straight wins. Richard Bland swept a road doubleheader on March 24 in Martinsville … winning the first game 18-2 and the second game 7-2.
Hodgkin's Lymphoma Awareness Day
Tiffany Hedge played in six games this season before being diagnosed with advanced Hodgkin's Lymphoma in February. She was expected to be an impact player for the Statesmen this season. A gofundme page, linked below, has been established and all money raised will go toward helping Tiff pay for her medical bills.
#TiffanyStrong
Up Next
Richard Bland will travel to play a single game on the road at Region 10 member Pitt (N.C.) Community College next Monday, April 24 at 3 p.m. in Winterville, North Carolina. It's a re-scheduled contest from April 5 that was rained out in Carolina. The Statesmen return home to welcome Region 10 opponent Wake Technical (N.C.) Community College for a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 26 at 5 p.m. at the RBC Softball Field on Sophomore Day for the program. It's the regular-season finale, as well, ahead of the Region 10 Tournament scheduled for May 5-6 at Springwood Park in Burlington, North Carolina.