ROCKINGHAM – On paper, the Richmond Raiders varsity baseball team appears to be in some trouble in the fight for a decent spot in the NCHSAA 4A playoffs. Just nine days ago, the Raiders entered a non-conference game with Hartsville (S.C.) sporting a 5-5 record and battling flat performances at the plate and often plagued with errors.
But since then, the Raiders have gone on a tear winning six straight including a 6-2 victory over Hartsville, a perfect game performance from Jonathan Lee in a shutout of Hoke County, and four victories in four days in Hilton Head (S.C.) to win the school’s second Seahawk Invitational.
The six-game run has pushed Richmond’s overall record to 11-5, which is not too bad considering that there are currently only eight 4A teams with winning records that have a higher strength of schedule than the Raiders.
In non-conference games, the Raiders are 7-1 losing only to a really good Charlotte Christian squad. However, the big issue is their performance in conference play where the Raiders find themselves sitting all alone in fifth place with a 4-4 record. This makes the final six Sandhills Athletic Conference games very important.
Now for the good news. The Raiders are actually in a really good position to keep the winning streak going and climb the ladder quickly. There is no doubt that the Raiders are playing at their absolute best right now. That combined with the fact that their next SAC action will be home and away series against Lumberton and Seventy-First high schools (who have a combined record of 3-19), gives Richmond a big opportunity to snag four wins before heading into their final series against rival Scotland High School.
The teams that are currently leading the conference have a much tougher road ahead of them. Pinecrest (13-3, 7-1 SAC) is currently all alone in first place with Jack Britt (8-4, 6-2 SAC), Hoke (9-8, 6-2 SAC), and Scotland (11-5, 6-2 SAC) all tied for second. Pinecrest, Jack Britt, and Hoke have not played one another. No matter who wins those games, it works in Richmond’s favor because at least two of them will be accumulating losses while the Raiders are earning probable wins against Lumberton and Seventy-First.
Pinecrest has the strongest remaining schedule. Its final six games will be against all three teams currently tied for second – Scotland, Jack Britt and Hoke. Jack Britt has Pinecrest and Hoke, but will finish off against winless Seventy-First (0-10, 0-8)
Hoke will have a tough six games squaring off against Jack Britt, Pinecrest and Purnell Swett (3-13, 1-7). Do not let Swett’s record fool you, they have a lot of talent, but have suffered a series of heartbreaking losses including a one run loss to Hoggard out of Wilmington and extra inning defeats to both Richmond and Pinecrest. Swett has taken down a really good Jack Britt team, and has even handed the Bucks a loss in the Robeson County Slugfest just a few days ago. Richmond could definitely benefit from the gauntlet that Hoke has ahead of it.
Scotland will face Pinecrest and Lumberton (3-9, 1-6) before meeting Richmond in the finale. Regardless of what happens between Scotland and Pinecrest, unless Lumberton pulls off a huge upset, the Raiders will need to sweep the Scots if they want to finish ahead of them in the SAC standings.
