May 19, 2004

Richardson puts together big sophomore season

Coming off a freshman season in which he was one of the Cowley County Community College baseball team’s most consistent pitchers at the end of the year, sophomore left-hander Dustin Richardson has taken his game to the next level as he was recently named a First-Team All-Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division selection.

Richardson has posted a record of 8-3 and an earned run average of 2.04. He has struck out 79 batters in 79 innings and is allowing opposing hitters a paltry .214 average against him.

“He’s pitched real good for us,” Cowley head coach Dave Burroughs said. “He’s gotten better during his time here and has improved his stock. He’s a great kid, and has worked hard to improve himself.”

Richardson was a first-team All-Ark Valley League outfielder and first baseman prior to being named a first-team All-AVL pitcher as a senior at Newton High School. Being named a first-team pitcher in the Jayhawk Conference was something Richardson was shooting for.

“It was definitely a goal of mine,” Richardson said. “Playing with other good players around me helped make me better.”

With teammate and Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division Most Valuable Player Josh Wahpepah also on the staff, the Tigers have two of the three first-team all-conference pitching selections in their starting rotation.

Richardson is hoping he and Wahpepah can help Cowley win its first two games at the Region VI Tournament, which begins Thursday.

“We believe that if we can get those first two games, not many other teams have the pitching we have that deep into the tournament,” Richardson said. “I hope to get a championship ring.”

After winning five of his first six starts, Richardson went through a stretch of five starts where he failed to go further than five innings. However, he seems to have the problem corrected as he pitched seven innings in an 11-5 win over Butler County on May 7, and then followed up that performance by allowing just one run in 8 1/3 innings in a 5-1 win over Dodge City in last weekend’s sub-regional.

“He had a couple of rough outings, but he rectified that and it was nice to get another big performance out of him at the sub-regional tournament,” Burroughs said.

Richardson was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in last year’s Major League Baseball draft, and hopes to sign a pro contract after his time at Cowley.

“Playing pro ball has always been a dream of mine,” Richardson said. “I would like to finish up school, but I would also like to get an early start playing pro ball and see what I can do with that.”

As for his time pitching for the Tigers, Richardson could not be happier with the way things have gone.

“Coming here was one of the best choices I have ever made because I have learned so much from Lefty (Darren Burroughs) and Dave (Burroughs), and they have helped make me that much better,” Richardson said. “I’m sure I will be coming back here asking Lefty and the other coaches for advice. This place has been great to me.”