Sports

Body RICHMOND – The Spartans’ defense got stingy to start this week of varsity softball. After yielding 38 runs last week in their first two games, both losses, the Spartans posted back-to-back shutouts Monday and Tuesday.

Body HARDIN – Eric Fairchild will probably remember Orrick’s 35-26 win Sept. 4 over Norborne Hardin- Central because it was his first win as Orrick’s varsity 8-man football coach. And because of how it ended.

Body As a sports journalist, an amateur athlete and the owner of an aging, ginormous pickup truck I call “Canyonero Junior,” I already wish September were over. And not just for me.

Body RICHMOND – Richmond High School football caoch Nick Persell is seeing an increase in participation in 11-man football. When Persell started in 2015 as an assistant on Rob Bowers’ staff, the numbers “were down in the 30s,” he estimated.

Body RICHMOND – The Spartans have wowed varsity softball coach Staci Maddux since starting preseason practices. “I’ve been nothing but impressed since the night we started,” Maddux said Aug.

Body RICHMOND – The coronavirus pandemic has influenced Jude Rumbaugh’s expectations for his final cross country season at Richmond. As practice was concluding Aug.

Body ORRICK – Eric Fairchild looks to pick up where Matt Hertzog left off in coaching Orrick’s varsity 8-man football program. Now employed by the Holden R-III School District, Hertzog coached for three seasons at Orrick – one season of 11-man football, two seasons of 8-man football.

Body ORRICK – Trevor Ballard has a new job with Orrick’s volleyball program. After coaching the junior high program last season, Ballard has moved on to helm the high school program.