Richardson Leads Belmont to Win

The Belmont Senior Babe Ruth team beat the Malden Marlins 7-2 on Monday, July 19, behind a strong outing from 15-year-old hurler Michael Richardson at Brendan Grant Memorial Field in Belmont.

Richardson, an occasional call-up to the town's under-19 team, let in two runs off three hits in the first inning but then found his groove, allowing no runs and only three hits over the next five innings.

"Being a younger kid and going against all these older kids, varsity players, it just gives you that much more adrenaline, makes you want to do that much better," said Richardson, a rising sophomore at Belmont High School.

Richardson was the only freshman to play on coach Dan Kelleher's junior-varsity team this past spring. Kelleher, who also coaches the town's summer league team, said the big right-hander did all that was asked of him on Monday against a now 11-7 Malden team.

"He had complete command, and the defense made plays behind him when it had to," Kelleher said. "You couldn't have scripted it any better."

Richardson didn't allow a walk in the win.

Belmont (8-8) scored five of its seven runs with two outs in the second inning.

Down 2-1 in the inning, catcher Eric Griswold started the rally with a two-run double to the center field fence. Outfielder Michael Rocha followed with an RBI single before another two-run double, by shortstop Evan Nichols, put Belmont on top 6-2.

Collin McNamara had an RBI single in the first inning and added an RBI double in the fifth to make the final 7-2.

"Our bats woke up today," Kelleher said.

Nichols also had two hits in the game. Rocha reached base three times, teammate Jamie McLaughlin twice.

Christian Raymond pitched a scoreless seventh inning in relief of Richardson.

Belmont returns to action against the Malden Bambinos at 5:45 p.m. tonight, Juluy 20, at Brendan Grant Memorial Field at Belmont High School.