First Posted: 10/1/2014

ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond Senior girls tennis team will get one more chance to break into the winning column before wrapping up its regular season.

Richmond dropped to 0-10 overall and 0-9 in Southeastern Conference play after being swept by Purnell Swett Wednesday afternoon. The contest was suspended from Sept. 23 when rain showers hit the area. The Rams are 7-5 on the season and 6-3 in conference.

“They were a little more sluggish today,” Richmond coach Allie Goodman said. “It was a weird situation since most of the matches were already halfway done. It was tough trying to get back into the groove. It was good practice for tomorrow.”

Kali Strickland blanked Kenzie Ransom 6-0, 6-0 in the top singles matchup. Genna Locklear downed McKenzie Grimes 6-1, 6-0. Nikana Oxendine slipped past Destiny Buie 6-3, 5-7, 10-7 at No. 3. Mary Scott defeated Meredith McLean 6-3, 6-4. Brooke Huggins stopped Olivia Haley 6-2, 6-2 and Sarah Locklear beat Erica Rich 6-1, 6-1.

In doubles, Locklear and Strickland knocked off Grimes and Ransom 8-1. Oxendine and Scott edged Haley and McLean 6-4. Huggins and Locklear shutout Blair Simmons and Rich 8-0.

Richmond will close out its regular season 4 p.m. today when it travels to face SEC rival Scotland. In the first matchup this season, the Scots claimed a 5-4 victory over the Raiders.

Richmond blanks Hoke

RAEFORD — Sergio Chaparro provided Richmond all of the offense it would need against Southeastern Conference foe Hoke.

Chaparro scored three first-half goals to lead the Raiders to a 4-0 victory over the Bucks Wednesday night at Raz Autry Stadium.

Johnny Juarez assisted on two of Chaparro’s goals.

“I thought we played a little flat in the first 20 minutes,” Richmond coach Bennie Howard said. “Once we finally scored, things opened up for us.”

Joseph Griffith and Cory Smith combined for the shutout, the sixth of the year for the Raiders (10-1 overall, 5-1 in the SEC). Griffith was removed from the game after colliding with a Hoke player in the first half.

“He took him out for precautionary reasons,” Howard said about Griffith. “He was walking around fine after the game.”

Alex Alvardo netted Richmond’s final goal midway through the second half off a feed from Manuel Zapato.

In the junior varsity contest, Richmond blanked Hoke 2-0. Carson Leviner and Josh Griffith each scored for the Raiders.

Richmond is scheduled to return to action Saturday when it plays host to Whiteville at Raider Stadium in a JV-varsity doubleheader. The JV game is set for 5 p.m.

Ellerbe golfers hit the links

WADESBORO — The Ellerbe Middle School golfers competed in the third SEMSC match of the season Tuesday at Twin Valley in Wadesboro.

Ellerbe finished tied for second with Anson. Brian White and Jackson Grooms paced the Wildcats with a 46 and 47, respectively. Logan Moore fired a 57 and Adam Webb carded a 58.

The team will return to action Monday at Loch Haven.

Reach sports editor Shawn Stinson at 910-817-2671 and follow him on Twitter @scgolfer.