ROCKINGHAM — The second spring sports program to be featured in our review series is the Richmond Senior High School softball team and a crucial blowout win.
Part of a comeback season for the Lady Raiders was their mercy-rule victory over Pinecrest High School in the regular-season finale.
Winning 10-0 in six innings, Richmond secured second place in the final Mid-South Conference standings. The victory also helped get the team back to the state playoffs.
Madison Hancock threw a four-hit complete game and Kinsie Lyerly finished the night 4-for-4 with three runs scored.
Belting six doubles as a team, Richmond was led with two RBI each from Madeline Carriker and Sydney Barnes.
Below is the original article posted on May 1, 2026:
ROCKINGHAM — Putting an exclamation mark at the end of its regular season Thursday, the Richmond Senior High School softball team routed its neighboring rival.
Completing the season sweep of Pinecrest High School, the Lady Raiders secured second place in the final Mid-South Conference standings.
Helping clinch the No. 2 spot was a 10-0 mercy-rule win in six innings over the Lady Patriots.
Scoring in every inning, Richmond led 3-0 after the first inning, added a run in the second and scored twice in the third to lead 6-0.
A run in both the fourth and fifth frames were followed by the team’s final two runs in the sixth.
Pitching a complete game shutout was sophomore pitcher Madison Hancock, who dazzled in a four-hit outing. She didn’t allow a walk and struck out for Lady Patriots.
Scoring a team-high three runs was senior Kinsie Lyerly, who was 4-for-4 at the plate with two doubles and two singles. She finished the game with one run batted in.
Junior Madeline Carriker connected for a two-bagger and a single and recorded two RBI. Also driving in a pair of runs was sophomore Sydney Barnes, who had one of Richmond’s six doubles.
Hancock helped her effort in the circle with a base hit and an RBI. Junior Jorja Moore rounded out Richmond’s seven-RBI effort with one run brought home.
The Lady Raiders had 13 hits, including three base knocks by senior Hayden Robinson. Hitting a double apiece for her lone hit were junior Emma Rusich and freshman Claire Clark.
In the home half of the first, Hancock singled on a line drive to center to score Barnes, who reached on a one-out double. Clark (fielder’s choice) and Lyerly (single) later scored to make it 3-0.
A leadoff double to the corner in right field by Carriker to start the bottom of the second resulted in a run two batters later. Barnes hit a sacrifice fly and plated Carriker, who moved to third following Robinson’s first hit.
Moore recorded her RBI on a sac fly to left field for the second out of the third inning. Two pitches later, Carriker drove in Rusich (double) on a line drive base hit to center field to increase the lead to 6-0.
Richmond’s run in the fourth was an RBI double by Lyerly, and the team added a run in the next frame when Barnes hit a sac fly.
The game ended early in the sixth when Lyerly (single) scored on a passed ball and Carriker singled home Rusich (walk) for her second RBI.
The Lady Raiders finished the season with a 9-13 overall record and 7-3 against MSC opponents. They’ll await the release of the NCHSAA’s playoff brackets Monday.
Sports editor’s note: Game information and statistics provided by Richmond’s GameChanger.
