ROCKINGHAM — Although there is still a wintry chill in the air, the high school spring sports season is right around the corner.
With Feb. 12 set as the official first day of tryouts, mandated by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, several of Richmond Senior High School’s programs are getting a jump start with optional team workouts beginning this week.
Those getting underway Monday are the baseball and softball teams, along with the boys’ tennis and girls’ soccer teams. Conditioning workouts are open to all eligible varsity and junior varsity players.
All interested student-athletes must have an up-to-date physical and concussion form, and must complete an athletic packet, which can be found in Richmond’s front office.
Lady Raider soccer looking to reset after loss of big senior class
The Richmond girls’ soccer program is coming off one of its best seasons in program history, having earned a first-round bye and a No. 8 seed in last year’s 4A state playoffs. Back for his second spring as head coach is Chris Larsen, who will be joined by his wife, Ashleigh, and Michelle Denson as assistants.
Finishing second in the SAC standings last year, the Lady Raiders will be without 11 of its senior players from a spring ago.
Larsen will look to keep the program trending in the right direction with workouts starting Monday from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Richmond’s pitch, and will run through Thursday.
Raider baseball prepares for first season with Ransom as skipper
New to the dugout this season will be head coach Rob Ransom, but who is no stranger to Raider baseball tradition. The former Richmond ball player was announced as the team’s new manager over the summer, following his replacement of former coach and athletic director Ricky Young. His son, Jake Ransom, also wrapped up his career last spring.
The Raiders finished second in the SAC standings and made it to the second round of the state playoffs. Also gone are 12 seniors, as Ransom will look to fill the entire starting nine in his first year.
Having conditioned during the fall, the Raiders will return to the diamond on Monday for spring conditioning practices. Workouts will run through the end of the week from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Lady Raider softball sees Way, Shuler take over this spring
Also turning a new leaf in the coaching spectrum is the Lady Raider softball team, which saw its winningest coach, Wendy Wallace, step down after 13 years. Taking over will be familiar face Mike Way, whose daughter Greyson Way was a four-year varsity player. Assisting him will be Andy Shuler; the pair were announced over the summer.
The Lady Raiders lost three big senior bats last year, but a majority of the team will be returning, which will be beneficial for Way. Richmond capped the 2019 season with its seventh consecutive SAC title, and much of that experience will be in the dugout this spring.
Way said the team, which also worked out in the fall, will start spring workouts Monday at 3:30 p.m. and roll on through Friday. Each session will end at 5 p.m.
Raider tennis to begin skill workouts with Hope
Of the four sports mentioned, the longest tenured coach is third-year tennis coach Patrick Hope. As he gets his third spring underway, he’s hoping to build interest in the sport, while also trying to fine-tune some of the game’s intricacies ahead of tryouts.
Tennis workouts will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesday starting this week up until tryouts on Feb. 12. The Raiders will be without several of their top-seeded players, including former No. 1 Kevin Campos, who is a freshman tennis player at Thiel College.
ROSports will update any changes made to the spring conditioning schedule. Boys’ golf coach Keith Parsons said his team will most likely begin practices starting the week of Feb. 18.
