Contributed by Jimmy McDonald Bennie Howard and his Richmond Senior boys soccer team will be forced to play part of its home schedule at the Ninth Grade Academy this fall.

slideshow

ROCKINGHAM — Now the other shoe has dropped.

The project to repave and resurface the track at Raider Stadium, which ran into a handful of unforeseen problems, has caused the administrators at Richmond Senior to shuffle the athletic schedules this fall.

The varsity football team’s three-team scrimmage with North Davidson and Glenn will still take place on Aug. 10 but will now be moved to the practice fields. The Raiders will start the season on the road against Sun Valley and Lee County before opening their home schedule against Anson County on Aug. 31.

Richmond athletic director Kevin Mabe said the pouring of the asphalt should be completed by the Anson County contest. This time frame would allow Richmond to play Anson and South View in Raider Stadium before the final stage of the project is competed during a two-week span when the team plays at West Forsyth and has an open date.

The junior varsity football team was not as fortunate. The squad will begin with two home games, Sun Valley and Lee County, which will be moved to the practice fields. The Raiders’ contest with West Forsyth will also be played on the practice field. Mabe added because of the lack of adequate lighting, the starting times for those games will have to change as well.

While Richmond’s football teams will be able to play on campus, the Richmond County Ninth Grade Academy will serve as a make-shift home field for Bennie Howard and his soccer team. The Raiders will play a scrimmage against Red Springs on Aug. 7 at the Ninth Grade Academy as well as five regular season contests.

“Even though we’re going to move those games, hopefully we will be able to adapt,” Howard said.

Howard suggested using his practice facility for the home contests to keep the games on campus, but administrators were worried about spectator safety.

“They were concerned someone could get injured or fall down the hill,” Howard said. “Plus there is no where to sit.”

Mabe said he hopes the soccer team will be able to return to Raider Stadium to face Southeastern Conference rival Pinecrest on Sept. 24.

Raiders advance to CCSSL semifinals

DUNN — Taylor McLean had three hits and drove in four as Richmond Senior downed Ashley 11-1 in six innings to advance to the Central Carolina Scholastic Summer League semifinals.

Drew Butler added three hits as well to support the pitching performances by Bradley Brown, Cody Leviner and Nic Bullard.

The Raiders will face the winner out of the Lee County bracket at 5 p.m. Friday in Sanford. Richmond’s opponent will either be Middle Creek, Holly Springs, West Johnston or Overhills in the 5 p.m. game Friday at Lee County. Middle Creek and Holly Springs were scheduled to battle in the early contest Wednesday followed by the West Johnston-Overhills matchup. The winners of those games would play at 7:30 p.m. today to determine Richmond’s opponent.

“It’s been a good summer,” Richmond coach Ricky Young said. “Hopefully we can finish it off right.”

— Sports editor Shawn Stinson can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 14, or by email at sstinson@heartlandpublications.com