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Richardson takes to leading role

The Seven Rivers Christian shortstop teaches much younger teammates.

By BRIAN SUMERS
Published March 21, 2006

HOMOSASSA SPRINGS - He is not a vocal team leader, but Justin Richardson's splotches of facial hair show he is more mature than most of his teammates.

On a Seven Rivers Christian team loaded with younger players, including some in seventh and eighth grade, the junior is the crusty three-year veteran.

"I'm not an upper-class bully," Richardson said with a smile.

The shortstop and occasional pitcher has adapted to the teaching role well, letting his work ethic rub off on his teammates.

"People are starting to look to Justin and he's starting to accept it," coach Steve Ekeli said.

And even as some teammates struggle with errors, the 17-year-old takes it well.

Take the shortstop's double-play partner, 13-year-old Andrew Gage. "He treats me like everybody else," he said, sporting hardly a wisp of facial hair. "I'm just one of the guys."

The consummate team player, Richardson agreed to be a starting pitcher this season, despite having little experience on the mound. Still, he chews up innings throwing mostly fastballs.

Ekeli likes to use Richardson as a starter because he throws strikes, but the 6-foot, 180-pound right-hander has been hit hard.

Hitting, though, is his forte.

Even though he plays basketball most of the year, Richardson hits into a net behind his family's Homosassa house about five teams each week. He has also been lifting weights, gaining about 10 pounds in each of the last two years.

The work has paid off, and he's been a clutch power hitter for Seven Rivers.

A lifetime Chicago Cubs fan (his parents are from Indiana) Richardson just one superstition: he won't let anyone use his Easton Connection bat.

Even when he makes an out, Richardson tends to hit the ball hard. Still, after making a long line-drive out in a recent game, he felt the need to explain his "mistake" to his coach.

"When he came back to the dugout, he said "Sorry, man,"' Ekeli said. "I said, "What are you sorry about? You just killed the ball."'

But Richardson disagreed.

"I was kind of mad at myself," he said. "I thought I could have gotten it to fall somewhere."

Richardson knows he might be an even better baseball player if he gave up basketball, but he said he loves both sports. He plays forward for Seven Rivers and arrived at baseball practice late, after basketball was eliminated from the district tournament.

"He never seems to tire of it," said his father, Jay, describing Justin's desire to play two sports. "I think he would play every day if he could."

Even at school, he's said he's usually concerned about the next practice. "It's all I think about," he said. "I guess that's not good."

Seven Rivers is a Class A school, so sometimes the level of play is not as fluid as Richardson might see at a larger school.

But he continues to stay positive, coaxing the team's rookies through their first year of high school baseball. And not even their errors can get him down.

"I try to help correct them," Richardson said. "I want to keep their spirits high so next time it's not a problem.

[Last modified March 21, 2006, 02:30:40]