BASEBALL: Richlands Stops Abingdon In SWD Semis

BY ALLEN GREGORY
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
TAZEWELL, Va. – Ethain Keene spent his junior season in an apprentice role for the Richlands baseball team.

Keene watched and learned as his cousin, right-handed pitcher Jordan Barnett, led the Blue Tornado to 23 straight wins with a glove-popping fastball.

“I grew up with Jordan and always looked up to him,” Keene said. “I knew it was going to be my turn after Jordan went on to bigger and better things.”

Perhaps inspired by the success of his cousin at Limestone College, Keene delivered a signature performance Thursday in the semifinals of the Southwest District tournament.

The 6-foot-3 left-hander struck out eight and allowed just four hits as Richlands stopped the second-seeded Abingdon Falcons, 6-2.

“Jordan usually talks to our team before games when he’s in from college,” said Keene, who has an earned run average under 2.00. “This was probably the biggest game of my career. I will let Jordan know about it.”

Richlands (13-7) plays Tazewell (18-3) tonight at 7 for the SWD title, while Abingdon plays Carroll County at 5 in the consolation game. Regular season champion Tazewell defeated Carroll County, 3-2, in Thursday’s late game.

Abingdon (17-5) swept Richlands by scores of 13-3 and 10-9 in the regular season, but the Blues responded Thursday with 10 hits, flawless defense and savvy baserunning. It was exactly the type of crisp performance coach Brad Strong has been searching for.

“Ethain has been he’s been pitching well, but we just haven’t been helping him out with runs,” Strong said.” We put a complete game together today.”

Christian Hearl drove in two runs for Richlands with three singles, while Joel Elswick and Reece Strong each collected two hits. Strong deflated the Falcons with a 2-run home run in the sixth inning.

The story of the Richlands offense has been leadoff batter Bradley Strong. The left-handed hitting sophomore has compiled a remarkable .634 batting average, with eight triples and four home runs.

“I never expected to have an average like that,” Strong said. “I hit about .290 last season, and I was just hoping to hit around .400 this year.”

Bradley Strong, son of the coach, said all the Blues fed off the versatile Barnett last season. In addition to posting an 11-1 record with three saves, Barnett hit .537 as the Blues advanced to the Region IV semifinals.

“We’ve missed Jordan each game, but we’re starting a new season in the playoffs,” Strong said. “It’s up to Ethain to follow in Jordan’s shoes now.”

Keene gains comfort from the defense from Strong, who has made just three errors at shortstop.

“Bradley is like a vacuum cleaner,” Keene said. “I expect no less than the best from my defense.”

Richlands rightfielder Blayke Wilson stymied a potential AHS rally in the fifth inning by throwing out a runner trying to score.

It amounted to frustrating night for AHS coach Mark Francisco, who saw his team make four errors. Starting pitcher Zach Witt, a first-team All-Southwest Virginia pick last season, was removed in the sixth inning.

“Against a good team like Richlands, you’ve got to make the plays,” Francisco said. “I felt like Zach did a good job. We just kicked the ball around in a couple innings, and Richlands hit the ball well. “We
usually have good pitching and solid defense, but you have days like this.”

The Falcons were able to make good contact against Keene earlier this season.

“[Keene] was hitting his spots, and he pitched a great game,” Francisco said. “Richlands deserved to win.”

Luke Hilt contributed a run-scoring single for AHS, while Kenny Pope doubled.

Keene remembered his earlier meeting against Abingdon

“Things got a little messy in that game and I got pulled in the fourth inning,” said Keene, who was also defensive standout on the Southwest District champion Richlands football team.

The big left-hander adjusted for Thursday’s rematch by continually working the corner of the plate.

“Outside corner, that’s my favorite spot,” Keene said. “It was a good night.”

Relying on the arm of Barnett, Richlands also defeated Abingdon in the title game of last year’s SWD tournament.

If Abingdon wins tonight against Carroll County, it earns the No. 3 seed from the SWD and will host a Region IV playoff game Monday. With a loss , the Falcons must travel to the No. 3 team from the River Ridge District Monday.

Tazewell has already clinched the No. 1 seed from the SWD.