The Sanford Spinners split a double header against the Reidsville Luckies Thursday, giving them a 16-13 conference record, good for second place in the collegiate level Old North State League’s Central Division, with three games left in the 2023 season.

In Thursday’s first game, the Spinners fell 4-1 in what was a tight game through the sixth inning, when the Luckies scored four to take the lead.

The Spinners bounced back in the second game of the night, when pitcher Nick Pope, a 2023 graduate of Lee County High School, made a spot start due to an injury, giving up just one run on three hits through three innings. The final score was 7-4.

July has been a rough stretch for the Spinners, who are 5-9 since June 28, when they had a league-best 12-4 record and were on a seven game winning streak. Still, the team is in second place in their division, ahead of the third place High Point Hushpuppies by four and a half games, meaning a playoff berth is highly likely.

The Spinners are two games behind the first place Sandhills (Pinehurst) Bogeys, who are 18-11 in conference. The Spinners have three games left. On Saturday, the team is on the road against the Hushpuppies at 6:30. The Spinners are back at home at Tramway Park adjacent to Southern Lee High School for games against the Hushpuppies on Monday (7 p.m.) and the Luckies on Tuesday (7 p.m.)

The Old North State League playoffs begin Thursday.

Tickets are $8 for general admission and $4 for kids, and can be purchased through the team’s website or on gameday.