REGION 2D SOFTBALL: Richlands takes regional title over Lee High as Averi Fuller stars (copy)
Averi Fuller, Richlands
NORTON, Va. – Softball is a family affair for Richlands junior Averi Fuller.
Consider her support base.
At age nine, Fuller’s father (Shannon) built a pitcher’s mound in the backyard of their house for a birthday present.
Fuller’s grandfather (Tommy Moore) installed a batting cage in the backyard three years ago.
“I was able to work on my game year-round after all that,” Fuller said.
That extra practice paid dividends on Thursday as the Richlands Blue Tornado earned the Region 2D softball tournament championship with a 5-2 victory over the Lee High Generals at Wise County Central.
In the circle, Fuller allowed just three hits and struck out nine with no walks.
Fuller said she has received a few lessons from pitching guru Denny Tincher, but most of the instruction has been in-house.
“My dad has pushed me over the years. If it wasn’t for him, I would definitely not be pitching,” Fuller said.
Shannon Fuller played football at Richlands.
Averi Fuller also receives assistance from Richlands legend Mackenzie Osborne. A two-time VHSL Class 2 softball player of the year, Osborne pitched at Virginia Tech and Arizona State after guiding the Blues to the 2019 VHSL Class 2 state title.
“Mackenzie really knows the game,” Fuller said
What was the plan against the heavy-hitting Lee High offense?
“Lee has mostly pull hitters, so I wanted keep them off-balance,” Fuller said. “I threw my change-up a lot and kept the ball outside. It helped to have a great defense behind me.”
Haven Crabtree in center field and AdyMae Reynolds in right contributed highlight-reel catches for the Blues.
At the plate, Fuller drove in two runs on a single and double.
Richlands (19-7) will host Liberty-Bedford (10-14) on Tuesday in the VHSL Class 2 quarterfinals, while Lee High (18-8) must travel to Appomattox County (21-2) on Tuesday. Appomattox rolled past Liberty by a 10-0 margin in Thursday’s Region 3D title game.
Lee High edged Richlands 3-0 in the 2025 Region 2D semifinals, but the Blues gained revenge on Thursday.
Junior Irelyn Osborne and Fuller each contributed two hits to the 10-hit attack, while Osborne, junior Paytlyn Barnett and Reynolds drove in runs.
“Lee has beat us several times several times in the playoffs,” Richlands coach James Cochran said. “We just wanted to grind everything out today, and Averi did one heck of a job. She spotted her pitches well against a good hitting team.”
There are no seniors in the starting lineup for Richlands and just one senior on the roster.
The last state tournament trip for Richlands came in 2019 with Osborne.
“Having (Osborne) on the coaching staff is a big motivator,” Cochran said. “She knows what it takes.”
Richlands built a 3-0 lead in the third inning behind a run-scoring double from Fuller and single from Reynolds.
Lee High answered in the bottom of the third with a two-run double from sophomore Avery Weston.
Richlands added two more runs in the sixth and then held on behind Fuller.
The Blues returned seven starters from last year 14-10 squad. Richlands dropped a 3-2 decision to Lebanon in the 2025 Region 2D championship.
“That was a heartbreaker, and so was the regional semifinal loss to Lee,” Cochran said.
Versatile athlete Adyson Moore, Fuller’s cousin, has been sidelined due to a knee injury. Moore was the starting catcher for the Blues last season.
Catcher Gracie Garrett and Chloe Bledsoe collected singles for Lee High on Thursday.
“We needed some timely hits and better execution,” Lee High coach Samantha Ely said. “I don’t think we attacked the pitches we needed to attack. But Richlands is a great team and they made some amazing plays on defense.”
Garrett was forced to leave the game in the fifth inning after suffering a finger injury while diving into first base on a bunt.
Weston pitched the first 2.2 innings for Lee High, allowing three runs and five hits with six strikeouts. Addie Taylor worked the remainder of the game.
“We had a lot of energy and confidence entering the game but our confidence went down after (Richlands) scored that first run in the opening inning,” Ely said.
Lee High dropped an 11-2 decision to Wise Central in last year’s regional championship and then lost at Appomattox in the state quarterfinals.
Every starter returned from that Lee High team.
“We had our standard set high after last year, and getting back to the (state) playoffs was part of the plan,” Ely said. “We’re state tourney bound, and we just have to regroup for Tuesday.”
Meanwhile, the playoff run continues for Richlands.
“The girls have really turned it on the past few games on offense and defense. I’m very proud of them,” Cochran said.
Richlands 102 002 0-5 10 2
Lee High 002 000 x-2 3 2
Fuller and Hill. Weston, Taylor (3) and Garrett, Robbins (6). W-Fuller. L-Weston. HR-none
agregory@bristolnews.com | Twitter: @Greg_BHCSports | (276) 645-2544
