ROCKINGHAM – Junior softball player Savannah Lampley and fellow junior track and field athlete Taliah Wall have been named the Official Richmond County Female Athletes of the Week presented by McNair Auto Sales.
Both Lampley and Wall have earned the honor before – Lampley was named during volleyball season in the fall, and Wall was named during basketball seasin in the winter. But both had a tremendous week in their respective spring sports, having them become the first two-time recipients of the RO’s Official Athlete of the Week recognition.
Athletic Profile
Name: Savannah Lampley
Age: 17
Year: Junior
Spring Sport: Softball
Position: Shortstop
Years on Varsity: 3 Years
Height & Weight: 5’-8”, 160 pounds
Experience: 12 years
Athlete of the Week Stats: Lampley’s extra-inning theatrics against Sandhills Athletic Conference opponent Jack Britt High School helped the Lady Raiders earn their seventh straight win Friday night. Down 8-2 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, Richmond mounted a six-run comeback to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings.
Going 2-for-5 in the game at the plate, Lampley (a UNCW softball commit for 2019) came up to bat in the bottom of the 10th inning with teammate Payton Chappell on second base and only one out. On the first pitch she saw, Lampley launched a rocket shot over the scoreboard in right field to give the No. 2 ranked Lady Raiders a 10-8 victory. She also had a key defensive play in the top of the inning, diving to stop a ground ball up the middle and getting a force out at second base to keep the Lady Buccaneers from scoring the go-ahead run.
Earlier in the week, Lampley also had the game-winning home run against Whiteville High School. She hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning on a 1-2 pitch, scoring the game’s only run in a 1-0 win during a pitcher’s duel.
On the season, Lampley is tied for the team lead in batting average (.500), RBIs (16) and home runs (2), and leads the team in runs scored (16) and hits (13). She also leads the team in on base plus slugging percentage (OPS) with 1.414, and is second in slugging percentage (SLG) with .807 and on base percentage (OBP) with .606.
You are among the team’s top offensive producer in several categories. What’s working well for you at the plate this season?
“I try not to think too much when I’m at the plate,” Lampley said. “I keep my mind clear. And when I see (the pitch) is a strike, I hit it as hard as I can. And if it’s a ball, I just take it. I’ve been getting more walks this year, and it’s my job to get on base as the lead-off (hitter).
“I’ve been seeing the ball really well. I wasn’t trying to hit home runs,” Lampley explained. “I was just trying to hit it as hard as I could. I knew they were going to go out right off the bat, but I didn’t think the one (against Jack Britt) would go over the scoreboard.”
Describe your favorite memory while playing softball so far at Richmond.
“It was probably when I was in ninth grade when we went to Alexander Central (High School) for the third round of the state playoffs,” Lampley recalled about her freshman season in 2016. “They’re a big program and think they invented the game of softball.
“We went up there and scored eight runs in the second inning and they were shocked,” she continued. “That was really fun because we beat them and nobody thought we would win. And Owen (Bowers) hit the farthest home run I’ve ever seen.”
What are you looking forward to most while playing softball at UNCW?
“I’m looking forward to meeting new people and getting to play with new people,” Lampley said. “It’s also going to be fun getting to play at a higher level and going to the beach all the time. And I really like the coaches there.”
Coach’s Corner: When asked about Lampley’s performance over the last week, Richmond head coach Wendy Wallace knows Lampley thrives in big-time moments.
“Savannah works hard during practice and puts in extra time every night after practice,” Wallace stated. “She is never satisfied and that hard work and commitment shows in big moments. She remains relaxed and performs well in big situations. She’s the type of player you want (as a coach) at the plate in those situations.”
For Lampley’s previous Richmond County Official Female Athlete of the Week article, click here.
Athletic Profile
Name: Taliah Wall
Age: 16
Year: Junior
Spring Sport: Track and Field
Events: 100 and 300-Meter Hurdles, Long Jump and High Jump
Years on Varsity: 3 Years
Height & Weight: 5’-6”, 130 pounds
Experience: 5 Years (AAU Track)
Athlete of the Week Stats: Wall has found herself near or at the top of the leaderboard in every event she has participated in this season, both on the track and in the field. In Richmond’s two meets last week, one at home on Thursday and the other at Eastern Alamance on Saturday, Wall finished with three total first-place finishes and collected top-seven finishes in four other events.
She also broke and currently holds the Richmond Senior High School record in the 100-meter hurdles, posting a time of 15.70 seconds as a sophomore in 2017. She also went to states as a freshman in the 100-meter hurdles.
During the home meet Thursday against Jack Britt, Lumberton and Purnell Swett high schools, Wall tallied a team-high 20 points in four different events to help Richmond finish first overall. On the track, she placed first in the 100 and 300-meter hurdles, posting times of 16.34 and 53.11 seconds, respectively. In field events, Wall jumped 15’-02.00” to finish first in the long jump, and placed fourth overall in the high jump, clearing 4’-4.00”. She has placed first in the 100-meter hurdles in all three Sandhills Athletic Conference meets this season
At the JJ Knox Track Classic Saturday, Wall faced tougher competition, but came away with 10 points. She finished fourth in the 300-meter hurdles (53.69 seconds), sixth in the 100-meter hurdles (18.72 seconds) and seventh in the long jump (13’-02.00”).
What’s it mean to you to hold the school record in the 100-meter hurdles? Describe your thought process when you’re running.
“This is actually the first time I’m hearing about that. I didn’t know I had broken the record,” Wall said with a smile. “That’s really cool because I’ve been trying to figure out a record to beat in the four events that I do. I didn’t think it’d be the 100-meter hurdles. That is amazing – I’m really excited!
“What I’m thinking about when I’m getting down in the blocks is not to jump the gun,” Wall continued. “That’s the only thing going through my head. But when I start running hurdles, I count 1-2-3 in my head because I have a three-step process. I’ve always thought about hard work and dedication, and practice hard, and I just think that I’m almost at the finish line when I run.”
Which event do enjoy the most and why?
“The 100-meter hurdles are my favorite,” Wall explained. “And then it would be the long jump. I just like running and jumping. I’m a hyper kid. When I first ran hurdles in ninth grade it was just so quick and fun. And (playing) basketball has helped with my running and jumping; all of my sports tie together.”
If you could meet any professional athlete, who would it be and why?
“It would have to be Olympic hurdler Kristi Castlin,” Wall said. “I watched her in the Olympics and saw how perfect her form was. She was so perfect and fast. And I just tell myself that if I can get my form like hers, I can get better. I’ve thought about running (track) in college.”
Coach’s Corner: Richmond Lady Raiders head track and field coach Reggie Miller knows that one of his top performers is a special athlete who puts forth max effort in every event she competes in.
“Taliah has been a great asset to our team this year,” Miller stated. “She is a hard worker every day in practice. Plus, her performances at meets this year has been remarkable. She’s averaging three wins per meet.
“She’s a versatile athlete,” Miller continued about Wall. “I can use her in almost every event and she will get points for us. Taliah is a leader by example and I can build a team around her. She knows how to remain calm under pressure, and you can see it in her eyes she wants to win. She’s determined and committed to be the best athlete she can be.”
For Wall’s previous Richmond County Official Female Athlete of the Week article, click here.
