Richardson signs to play softball at Salem State University

Feb. 16—BLUEFIELD — Bluefield's star softball shortstop is preparing to go long.

Abby Richardson, a key member of last year's 25-win Bluefield High School Lady Beavers, has signed to play for Salem State University in Massachusetts for Coach Ron Leahy.

She notes that the dynamic between the coach and players is very positive and says that quality is something she has been used to at Bluefield. The daughter to Christy and Jake Richardson of Bluefield, Abby has helped to spark the resurgence of the softball squad, often in tandem with her sister, Grace, the catcher, who is also headed off to college softball in the fall at West Virginia Wesleyan.

"Softball has been like a sisterhood to me," says Abby, adding, "there has never been anything in my life quite like it. My teammates have worked together for one common goal. Softball is so unique, difficult and even though we in sports have more failures than successes we have always picked one another up."

Richardson prospered under several coaches beginning in elementary school with Jaclyn Gregory and she has continued to play for the past 8 years, most often in travel ball with the Rawlings/Bluefield Tigers as some school events were curtailed due to the COVID pandemic.

The Lady Beavers began to rise to the top in the last three seasons under Coach Barry Reed, coming within an inning last season of advancing to the state tournament in Charleston. Reed is now teaching in Tennessee and new Coach Justin Hall.

"It will tough without Coach Reed," says Richardson, "but Coach Hall has worked with us for years and he is very excited so I think we will do well this season. It is up to all of us to work hard and get the job done."

Reed said, "You have to be good up the middle of the field and Abby was our shortstop the past three years. She made some errors as a freshman but got better and better. She can hit to all fields and this is quite an achievement as she becomes the third member of the Beavers to sign to play college softball including her sister, Grace, and our pitcher, Isabella 'Izzy' Smith."

Richardson plans to major in chemistry at Salem State and do research in the neurochemistry area.

She says, "I want to help people and I think Salem provides a platform to help me do that."

Her mother, Christy, adds, "Softball at first was almost an afterthought. She and her sister did not really to play Coach Pitch but then they fell in love with the game and it has become their game of choice. Sports has helped them develop confidence and boost their leadership skills."

Her dad, Jake, adds, "This (commitment) is the culmination of a lot of hard work, starting with Jaclyn and Justin (Hall) and Barry Reed. It was very exciting last year to not only win 25 games but be part of Coach Reed's 500th overall victory."

BHS Principal Mike Collins says, "Both of the Richardson twins, Abby and Grace, have been leaders in the classroom and on the field at Bluefield High School. You can judge their effectiveness by the growth and success of every team they have been on at every level."