ROCKINGHAM — The two newest structures on Richmond Senior High School’s campus are up and awaiting the final touches.
After two months of construction, the new softball locker room and indoor hitting facility were recently christened with the Raider diamond logo.
The project for the much-needed amenities was a result of a joint effort which included a Cole Foundation grant obtained by Jean Way and money given by the Richmond County Board of Education.
Southern Builders, Inc. broke ground on the project on June 15.
Way, a longtime Richmond County educator, helped secure the $45,000 grant and $15,000 in private donations for the project. With the BOE matching the grant amount, in all, the new facilities cost approximately $115K after the decision was made to use a steel frame structure for the hitting facility.
“They are still in the process of finishing the inside of the hitting facility and locker room, but to this point they look great,” second-year head coach Mike Way said.
The indoor facility is still waiting for the batting cages, nets and bullpens to be installed, as well as the artificial surface flooring. The space, which will be used by the team for workouts and training during the fall and winter months, is 32 feet wide by 70 feet long.
Pictured above is the Lady Raiders’ new indoor hitting facility, located along the left field line.
An inside look of the hitting facility, which has bay doors on both ends.
Way and the Lady Raiders haven’t played a game or worked out together since their final game of the 2020 season, which was at home against Purnell Swett on March 10. The coronavirus dead period, followed by restricted workout periods, have kept the team off the field.
But all of that will change soon, Way hopes.
“I am hoping once the flooring and cages are installed, and of course the COVID restrictions are lifted or at least loosened, we can get in there some before Christmas,” Way said.
This past spring, Richmond saw its season cut to just three games before the North Carolina High School Athletic Association stopped play. On Aug. 12, the NCHSAA announced a new sports calendar for all 16 of its sanctioned athletic programs, including softball.
The new schedule has high school softball beginning pre-season practices on March 1, 2021, which is about a month later than normal. That will be followed by a two-week practice period before games can begin on March 15 and run through April 30.
Although the potential of having a season is appealing to Way and his players alike, the Lady Raiders will be limited to just 14 total games. Teams across the state can play up to two games per week, and no official schedule has been released by Richmond.
During non-COVID seasons, the softball team has averaged 26.8 games per season the last 10 years, almost double the allowed amount of games this coming spring.
“I am glad that the season will be at somewhat of a normal time for us,” Way shared. “However, with the season being shortened it is like we lost a season and a half.
“But, something is better than nothing, so we will take what we are given and do the best we can with it.”
Despite the extended period of time since he and his players have been together, Way is remaining positive about the program’s future success.
“I think we are in a pretty good place,” he said. “These girls play a lot of softball throughout the entire year, so practice time is less of an issue.
“I do wish there was a way they could play together more, but for the most part, any kind of playing is better than nothing.”
