ROCKINGHAM — With the high school football season kicking off less than a month from now, many in Raider Nation are getting excited, and for good reason. 

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Even though the class of 2019 has yet to turn its tassels, fall sports are already getting underway at Richmond Senior High School.  For two area volleyball players, it never really ended.

Athletics and Richmond County are no stranger to one another. If you meet someone who has never visited our community, but is familiar with it, chances are stock car racing or the Richmond Raiders are responsible. While racing is currently a shadow of what it once was in Richmond County, high school sports are bigger than ever.

HICKORY – On Saturday, over 200 hundred young gymnasts from North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia travelled to the Highland Recreation Center in Hickory, N.C., to compete in the T&T Power Explosion trampoline and tumbling competition. 

ROCKINGHAM – As soon as the ball clanged off Cameron Carraway’s bat in the bottom of the sixth inning, there was no doubt that it was exiting the park. 

WADESBORO – The Hamlet Middle School softball team survived a furious seventh-inning rally by the Anson Lady Bearcats to come away with a 7-6 road win in Wadesboro on Wednesday. 

ROCKINGHAM – Pinecrest High School’s varsity baseball team managed to turn eight hits into seven runs in Thursday night’s showdown with Richmond at Raider Field. 

SOUTHERN PINES – On March 16, 2018, Jake Ransom stood with his Richmond Senior High School varsity baseball teammates at home plate waiting to welcome home Gordon Pihl who was circling the bases at John Williams Field at Pinecrest High School. 

HAMLET – On Monday afternoon, the Hamlet Middle School softball team took an opportunity to tune up before Wednesday’s conference opener against a tough Anson squad when it hosted the Eagles from Uwharrie Charter School. 

FOXFIRE – Last season, Richmond’s boys’ golf team relied heavily on the strength of its ninth graders.  Half of the team’s 10-member roster was made up of freshmen and four of the team’s five lowest scores each week came from that class.