The Richmond Red Devil baseball team hosted the Hagerstown Tigers for an intracounty matchup on Thursday, April 3, at historic McBride Stadium. Both teams are a blend of young talent with veteran on-field leadership, and both have high hopes for the season.
The Tigers started the game with five freshmen and four seniors in their starting lineup. Richmond countered with a lineup that included their lone senior and eight underclassmen. Sophomore Jay Burdette was the starting pitcher for Richmond. Senior Kaagen Kendall was on the mound for the Tigers.
The Tigers struck for two runs in the top of the first inning. Kaden Hall led off with a single to left field, stole second and third, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Will Combs. The next three Tigers reached base. Jackson Ward drew a walk, Graham Vinson singled and Aiden Grover drew a walk to load the bases. Jaxon Hale drew an RBI walk before the next batter struck out to end the top half of the first inning, leaving three runners on base.
Burdette drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the first inning to give the Devils their first base runner before Tiger starter Kaagen Kendall struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
The Tigers added a single run in the top half of the second inning. With one out, Hall was hit by a pitch and advanced to second base when Anthony Kelley reached base on an error. After a strikeout, Ward drew a walk to load the bases and Vinson drew an RBI walk. A flyout ended the inning, leaving the bases loaded for the second consecutive inning.
The Red Devils went down one-two-three in the bottom of the second inning.
As the Tigers prepared to bat in the top of the third inning, holding a 3-0 lead, the game officials halted play because of a steady rain and field conditions.
Richmond head coach Michael Medley and Hagerstown head coach Jay Hale held a meeting and agreed to resume the game from where it stopped on a date, time and location next week to be determined.
Medley, in his first year as the Richmond head coach, is pleased with his team this year. “We have a lot of guys in new positions, but they are all working hard,” Medley said. “I think we will be a very good baseball team. The players have a great attitude, and we as coaches are letting them know that it’s all about them. We are just here to guide them in a sense.”
Tiger head coach Jay Hale said the Tigers have always enjoyed their games with Richmond. “We just want to play good competition and Richmond always provides that,” Hale said. “We are young and we will only get better by gaining experience on the field.”
Hagerstown (0-1) 2 1
Richmond (0-1) 0 0
Richmond’s Wyatt Kier catches as Hagerstown’s Will Combs bats during a baseball game Thursday, April 3, 2025 on John Cate Field at McBride Stadium in Richmond, Ind. The game was delayed due to rain and then canceled for poor field conditions. 
Hagerstown players watch from the dugout during a baseball game Thursday, April 3, 2025 on John Cate Field at McBride Stadium in Richmond, Ind. The game was delayed due to rain and then canceled for poor field conditions. 
Richmond’s Wyatt Kier catches as Hagerstown’s Jackson Ward passes on a pitch during a baseball game Thursday, April 3, 2025 on John Cate Field at McBride Stadium in Richmond, Ind. The game was delayed due to rain and then canceled for poor field conditions. 
Richmond’s Jayvian Burdette pitches to Hagerstown during a baseball game Thursday, April 3, 2025 on John Cate Field at McBride Stadium in Richmond, Ind. The game was delayed due to rain and then canceled for poor field conditions. 
Richmond’s Wyatt Kier catches as Hagerstown’s Graham Vinson bats during a baseball game Thursday, April 3, 2025 on John Cate Field at McBride Stadium in Richmond, Ind. The game was delayed due to rain and then canceled for poor field conditions. 
Richmond’s Wyatt Kier catches as Hagerstown’s Jackson Ward scores on a bases-loaded walk during a baseball game Thursday, April 3, 2025 on John Cate Field at McBride Stadium in Richmond, Ind. The game was delayed due to rain and then canceled for poor field conditions. 
Hagerstown’s Kaagen Kendall pitches to Richmond during a baseball game Thursday, April 3, 2025 on John Cate Field at McBride Stadium in Richmond, Ind. The game was delayed due to rain and then canceled for poor field conditions. 
Hagerstown’s Kaagen Kendall pitches to Richmond during a baseball game Thursday, April 3, 2025 on John Cate Field at McBride Stadium in Richmond, Ind. The game was delayed due to rain and then canceled for poor field conditions. 
Richmond’s Aiden McWhinney bats during a baseball game against Hagerstown Thursday, April 3, 2025 on John Cate Field at McBride Stadium in Richmond, Ind. The game was delayed due to rain and then canceled for poor field conditions. 
Hagerstown’s Zack Logston throws to first base after fielding the ball hit by Richmond during a baseball game Thursday, April 3, 2025 on John Cate Field at McBride Stadium in Richmond, Ind. The game was delayed due to rain and then canceled for poor field conditions. 
Richmond’s Corey Day swings the bat against Hagerstown’s during a baseball game Thursday, April 3, 2025 on John Cate Field at McBride Stadium in Richmond, Ind. The game was delayed due to rain and then canceled for poor field conditions. 
Fans watch as teams high-five after a baseball game is called because of the weather Thursday, April 3, 2025 on John Cate Field at McBride Stadium in Richmond, Ind.
A version of this article appeared in the April 9 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.