ROCKINGHAM — Returning to the state playoffs for the first time in two years, the Richmond Senior High School softball team will open the postseason Tuesday.
Released by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Monday morning, the final brackets for the 7A playoffs have the Lady Raiders on the road in the first round.
Seeking its first playoff victory since the first round of the 2023 season, Richmond received the No. 18 seed in the 7A West bracket.
The Lady Raiders and head coach Caroline Wilson, who went 9-13 in the regular season, will travel to No. 15 Marvin Ridge High School (9-12).
Seeded by each program’s final ratings percentage index (RPI), the NCHSAA’s formula to rank each team, Richmond finished with the 36th-best RPI in 7A with a 0.48705 rating.
Marvin Ridge, which is coached by Linda McGowan, had the 32nd-ranked RPI in 7A (0.52284).
Having coached her second season at her alma mater, Wilson said a program goal this spring was to get back to the playoffs. Furthermore, if the Lady Raiders can play their brand of softball, Wilson believes postseason victories are achievable.
“It’s a great feeling making it back to the playoffs this year,” Wilson said. “These girls have a lot of talent and I think we are starting off with a good game.
“Each game will be a challenge, but if we play up to our potential, we can really show what we’re capable of in this postseason.”
Showing flashes of power on offense this season, Richmond has found it challenging at times to get its pitching in order. If both line up in the playoffs, Richmond could be tough to beat.
The Lady Raiders finished the regular season in second place in the 8A/7A Mid-South Conference with a 7-3 record, two games behind conference winner Hoke County High School.
Entering the postseason having won its final two regular-season games, Richmond will look to win its third straight game for the first time this season.
In the 6A/7A Southern Carolina Conference, the Lady Mavericks went 5-9 and placed fifth out of seven teams. Marvin Ridge has lost three of its last four games entering the playoffs.
Richmond’s batters, led by freshman Claire Clark (.500 batting average) and senior Hayden Robinson (nine home runs), will likely face sophomore pitcher Brielle McArdle. In 18 appearances this season, McArdle is 7-11 with 98.1 innings pitched, 82 earned runs allowed and 62 strikeouts.
The Lady Raiders will have their choice of who to put in the circle. Likely starters include junior Emma Rusich and sophomore Mackenzie Quick, both of whom have made 13 appearances. Sophomore Madison Hancock could also start, having appeared in 10 games this spring.
Hancock’s 3.80 earned run average is the lowest on the team in 35 innings and leads the team with 36 Ks. Rusich has logged 48 innings with 28 strikeouts and Quick has pitched 33.2 innings and struck out 34 hitters.
A win in the first round would make it Richmond’s first in the postseason since defeating Jordan High School 16-4 in the opening round of the 2023 playoffs.
The No. 18 Lady Raiders and No. 15 Lady Mavericks will begin play Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Waxhaw.
