Sports

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

HARDIN – Norborne Hardin-Central coach Kirk Thacker and his Aggies are not taking a business-as-usual approach to this 8-man football season. “Everything is new,” Thacker said after the Aug.

HARDIN – This season, the Hardin-Central cross country program is almost an all-boys club. As this preview went to preview, there were no girl runners.

HARDIN – The 2020 Hardin-Central varsity softball roster gives Bulldogs coach Brandee Doyle cause for concern About 2021, that is. Through the first week of practice, seven of Doyle’s 16 players were seniors “I don’t like it, but it is what it is,” she said.