By Ronnie Gallagher
rgallagher@salisburypost.com
CHINA GROVE — Mark Woody was expecting to be on the Hickory Ridge field last night about 5 p.m. getting ready for the Cougars’ third game of the season.
Instead, he was doing the laundry back in China Grove.
For the second time in three days, the game was called due to weather. A tornado watch and lightning at Hickory Ridge forced the teams to cancel — or postpone.
“I really don’t know right now,” Woody said, “except we will not play this week.”
Neither Woody or Ragin’ Bulls coach Marty Paxton want to cancel, “because you don’t know how it will affect the playoffs,” Woody said. “It’s one of those deals where we might end up playing the last week.”
Woody had his team come in around 3 p.m. and briefed them.
“We told them to be ready to play but if we don’t, we don’t,” Woody said. “They wanted to play. They were fired up. But it might help us with a couple more days to get people healthy.”
Woody laughs about his good friend Paxton and the things that go wrong when these two teams play at Hickory Ridge. Two years ago, bad weather forced the teams to start on Friday and end on Saturday.
Now this.
Woody took the postponement in stride.
“You worry about things you can control,” he said. “We can’t control this. Our next game is Friday here against J.M. Robinson.”
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NOTES: At the time Woody was talking, the sun came out in China Grove. … Robinson’s game was reportedly called off on Monday as well, so there should be two well-rested teams meeting up at Carson on Friday. … Woody said Paxton called about 4:30 with news of the lightning. … Both teams are checking their schedules for a possible makeup date.