ROCKINGHAM — A scheduling change for the second round of the state playoffs has been made in anticipation of wet weather later in the week.
The Richmond Senior High School baseball and softball teams both advanced to the second round of the NCHSAA 4A East playoffs with wins on Tuesday, and will now play their second respective games one day sooner.
Originally scheduled to be played Friday, the second round games will be played on Thursday.
Rob Ransom, Richmond’s athletic director and head baseball coach, and head softball coach Mike Way both confirmed the changes.
The National Weather Service is forecasting “a chance of showers and thunderstorms” on Friday, with the chance of precipitation at 90 percent. A rainfall amount of “between a quarter and half of an inch” is possible.
There is also a slight chance of rainfall on Thursday, a 30 percent possibility according to the NWS.
No. 8 Lady Raiders prepare for another home game
Following Tuesday’s 4-2 win over No. 25 Hoke County in the first round, Richmond (15-5) will host No. 24 Holly Springs High School (12-9).
In what will be the first meeting between the two teams on the softball diamond, the Lady Raiders will try to advance to the third round for the first time since 2018.
The Lady Golden Hawks upset No. 9 Cardinal Gibbons High School 3-2 to begin the playoffs.
Thursday’s softball action will get started at 5 p.m. in Rockingham, allowing fans the opportunity to catch some of the Richmond baseball game.
No. 15 Raiders looking to upset familiar conference foe
Dominant pitching by the No. 15 Raiders (14-8) fueled a 2-1 victory over No. 18 Cleveland High School on Tuesday, which set up another meeting with Pinecrest High School.
The No. 2 Patriots (20-5) won the Sandhills Athletic Conference this season, and Thursday’s game will be the fourth time Richmond and Pinecrest will battle it out this spring.
Pinecrest has won two of the three matchups, but the Raiders earned a 13-1 win over the Patriots in the most recent game during the spring break tournament.
To advance to the second round, Pinecrest defeated No. 31 South View High School 8-1. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday.
The Richmond Observer will update this article with any other changes. Follow the RO sports department on Twitter for live, in-game updates @ROSports_.
