CHAPEL HILL — A familiar opponent will be the first of many hopeful playoff opponents for the Richmond Senior High School baseball team.
The NCHSAA released its finalized 4A East state playoff brackets around 2 p.m. Monday, pairing the No. 24 Raiders against No. 9 Purnell Swett High School.
Former conference foes under the previous alignment, Richmond and Purnell Swett will meet one another for the second time this season during the opening round.
Bringing their blue collar swagger rooted in the program’s tradition to the playoffs, supported by head coach Eric Brown in his first season with his alma mater, the Raiders will try to upset the Rams and head coach Jeff Lamb.
Over the past two seasons, Richmond has made the 4A postseason. Its 2022 trip ended in the second round, while last season resulted in a first-round exit at Millbrook.
The NCHSAA uses a formula to determine each team’s ratings percentage index (RPI) to determine playoff seedings. The Raiders had a final RPI of 0.53617 (25th best in the 4A East), with the Rams finishing with a 0.53339 RPI (22nd best in the 4A East).
Other factors included in the final RPI of a team are its winning percentage, opponent winning percentage and opponents’ opponent winning percentage.
Richmond’s line was a 0.60870 WP, 0.49067 OWP and a 0.52432 OOWP. The Rams posted a 0.68000 WP, 0.47815 OWP and a 0.48242 OOWP.
The Raiders (14-9) and Rams (17-8) met for a non-conference game March 20 at Raider Field. Richmond fans will remember that early-season matchup, which ended in walk-off fashion.
After trailing 2-0 from the fourth inning on, the Raiders rallied to score all of their runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to win 3-2.
With the bases loaded and no outs, freshman Collin Hill ripped a two-run double off reliever Chandon Sanderson to tie the game. Two pitches later, junior Landon Taylor walked it off with an RBI single to center field.
Since that meeting nearly eight weeks ago, Richmond has played 15 games and compiled an 8-7 record, including winning four of its last five games entering the playoffs.
The Rams played 18 games and totaled a 13-5 record, which featured one forfeit win and weaker strength of schedule than Richmond’s.
The Raiders had their best finish since 2019 in the 3A/4A Sandhills Athletic Conference standings, earning second place with a 9-3 record. Purnell Swett was also second in the 3A/4A United 8 Conference with a 13-3 mark.
Purnell Swett finished as the top 4A school in the United 8, giving the Rams a higher playoff seed. The Raiders were the second 4A school in the SAC, behind conference winner Pinecrest High School.
Through their 23 games this spring, the Raiders have averaged 5.91 runs per seven innings. Defensively, they’ve allowed 4.95 runs against.
The Rams, who have played two more overall games, are averaging 8.04 runs for and 4.24 runs against this spring.
The go-to starter for Richmond this spring has been senior James Eason, who will likely take the bump against the Rams. He’s made 10 starts and recorded a 6-4 record, with seven of those appearances counted as complete games.
Eason enters the postseason with a 2.02 earned run average in 58.2 innings pitched. He’s struck out 42 batters and held opposing hitters to a .252 batting average.
Purnell Swett has pitched more by committee this season, with its most-pitched players being Jacob Chavis (40 innings, 3-1, 2.10 ERA), Sanderson (32 innings, 5-3, 1.53 ERA) and Aaron Locklear (30.2 innings, 3-2, 2.05 ERA).
The No. 24 Raiders will make the business trip east to No. 9 Purnell Swett Tuesday. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m.
