Richland Bomber Baseball had a historic undefeated 2024 season that ended with a WIAA 4A State Championship. After losing 11 seniors, Richland is gearing up for another season under head Grant Richardson.
Last spring, the Richland Bombers did the improbable: they didn’t lose. A perfect 27–0 record and an undefeated state championship cemented the 2024 squad’s place in Tri-Cities sports history.
Now, as the Bombers reload for 2025, head coach Grant Richardson is keeping expectations sky-high — with a healthy dose of realism.
“You never go into a season really thinking you’re going to go undefeated,” Richardson admitted. “You just go in trying to win every game and the ultimate goal is to win the last one. When it was all said and done, you just look back and go, ‘Oh my gosh, how did that happen?’”
Culture of Winning
Richland High’s baseball program has become synonymous with deep playoff runs and championship banners. From 2018’s Cinderella title run to last year’s historic sweep, winning has become the norm.
“Winning is what we do in this program,” said senior shortstop Carter Upmeyer. “I don’t remember the last time I’ve looked at M baseball and thought, ‘Man, they’re a losing team.’ It just doesn’t happen here.”
That standard is deeply rooted in the Bombers’ culture — from the varsity squad down to freshman practices.
“We were raised in a winning program,” added junior catcher Hayden Galloway. “Our coaches expect a lot from us and push us to be better teammates, better players, better people.”
Next Man Up
This year’s team has big shoes to fill after graduating 11 seniors — many of whom are now playing at the next level or pursuing missions and other adventures.
“Chris Daniels is down at New Mexico State, Alec Ammerman is at Grand Canyon University, and Dallas Bennett is on his mission,” Richardson shared proudly. “They were here in the moment, they wanted to compete, and they left their mark.”
Replacing that core is a mix of hungry returners and a wave of underclassmen eager to build their own legacy.
“People ask how we’re going to be this year,” Richardson said. “We’re in a growing period, but we’re going to compete. It’s that next-man-up mentality. We’ve got a lot of young guys who were chomping at the bit last year and now it’s their turn.”
New Leaders Emerge
Senior Upmeyer is ready to step into a bigger leadership role, on the field and in the dugout.
“We have a very young infield — I’m the only senior in the group,” Meyer explained. “But our outfield is all seniors, so there’s leadership there too. My job is to pass down what I’ve learned and help the younger guys settle in.”
Galloway echoed that sentiment:
“We’re carrying, what, like 11 sophomores? There’s going to be mistakes. It’s about how we respond, how we learn, and how we pick each other up.”
Pitching and Defense — the Bomber Way
Even with roster turnover, some things don’t change in Richland. The Bombers pride themselves on elite defense and shutdown pitching.
“Last year, we didn’t give up more than four runs in a game,” Richardson said. “That’s our blueprint: pitching and defense. The bats are what they are with today’s rules — you win with arms and gloves.”
Fans can expect big innings from juniors Braylon Edwards and Michael Revell, and senior Drew Schock, who is stepping into a bigger role.
“We’ve got some sophomores too who can eat innings,” Richardson noted. “It’s that same idea: who’s going to get out there, throw strikes, and trust the defense behind them.”
Learning From Loss
After not losing a game in two years, the Bombers dropped early contests this preseason. Instead of panic, the team sees it as a blessing.
“It’s almost like a reality check,” Upmeyer said. “We want those losses now, not in May. You learn a lot more when you get punched in the mouth early.”
Galloway agreed:
“We were playing a lot of young guys. Mistakes happen. It’s about how we overcome them, how we work to fix them. That’s what makes us better.”
One Goal: Win
Despite a new roster, one thing remains unchanged: the Bombers expect to win — and have fun doing it.
“Winning is always an expectation for us,” Upmeyer said. “But so is having fun with my brothers. It goes fast. I just want to enjoy every second of my senior year.”
When this spring wraps, Upmeyer will continue playing at Northwest Nazarene University, majoring in business management.
“I’m excited to see what the next chapter brings,” he said. “But first, there’s one more job to do here.”
Catch the Bombers
Catch Richland Bomber Baseball all spring at Bomber Field — where new faces are ready to write the next chapter of a proud, winning tradition.
Stay tuned for more local sports stories on The Sports Council every Thursday at 11:30 AM on 1340 ESPN Tri-Cities — or anytime on demand at 1340espnradio.com.