Bob Sutton - Randolph Record

09 Jun

ZooKeepers ride early wave as team builds

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, Davis Germann, Korey Dunbar, summer college baseball

Boaz Harper, who plays collegiately for North Carolina, takes a swing during a game for the Asheboro ZooKeepers last week. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO — The Asheboro ZooKeepers have excelled in several areas early in the season and the team is still coming together. Third-year coach Korey Dunbar said the opening stretch of the season has been encouraging. Through Sunday, the ZooKeepers held a 6-2 record in the Coastal Plain League. “Trying to coach these guys up on a daily basis,” Dunbar said. “It all boils down to these guys doing the work. They’re all in and they…

08 Jun

Post 45 keeps Post 81 in check, pushes win streak to three games

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Caleb Coggins, Drew Harmon, Elijah Prince, Jackson Hill, Liberty Post 81, McCrary Park, Nate Cockman, Randolph County Post 45, Sam Gore, Tate Andrews

ASHEBORO — Three Post 45 pitchers combined on a four-hitter in an 8-3 victory against visiting Post 81 on Sunday night at McCrary Park. Drew Harmon pitched five innings, giving up three runs and three hits. Prince and Tate Andrews each threw an inning of shutout relief. Post 45 (5-2) never trailed in notching a third consecutive victory. Caleb Coggins ripped a two-run double to deep center field with the bases loaded in the third. Jackson Hill doubled and scored in the fourth. But Post 81 (0-8) got back in it, courtesy of some fielding blunders, pulling within 5-3 in…

05 Jun

Welcome aboard and welcome back: Willard, Brown boost Post 45 past Post 81

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Braxton Walker, Carter Brown, Eli Holland, Ethan Willard, Liberty Post 81, Nate Cockman, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh

Ethan Willard (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) RAMSEUR – Ethan Willard arrived to play with Randolph County Post 45 and Carter Brown is back with the American Legion team. That combination proved big for Post 45 in its first intra-county matchup of the season Wednesday night. Willard belted the game’s first pitch for a home run. After a walk to Jake Riddle, Brown smacked a two-run home run. Those were the key hits to go with six innings of pitching from Braxton Walker in a 5-2 victory against Liberty Post 81 at Eastern Randolph. Willard finished his high school career…

02 Jun

Carter becomes youngest Asheboro City Amateur champion

Bob SuttonSportsAmateur golf, Asheboro City Amateur, Connor Carter, Pinewood Country Club, Sam Davidson, Steve Kidd

Connor Carter sinks the final putt to win the Asheboro City Amateur on Sunday. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO — Connor Carter became the youngest champion of the Asheboro City Amateur by winning the 2025 tournament during the weekend. Carter celebrated his 20th birthday Saturday and a day later became the event’s champion. “I didn’t want to put pressure on about it,” he said. “I definitely thought being the youngest was something I wanted to do.” His 2-under-par 211 was good enough for a five-stroke victory on Asheboro’s Sam Davidson of Asheboro, a former Division I college golfer. Carter…

31 May

Different path, same result: UCA claims third consecutive 1A state championship in baseball

Bob SuttonSportsclass 1-A, Grat Dalton, Jake Hunter, Jaxon Mabe, Logun Wilkins, nchsaa, Prep baseball, Rob Shore, state finals, Ting Stadium, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Uwharrie Charter Academy's Jaxon Mabe was fired up during the Class 1A state finals at Ting Stadium in Holly Springs. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) HOLLY SPRINGS – It was a different route for Uwharrie Charter Academy’s baseball team in the Class 1A state finals. The Eagles ended up in the same place. It took two victories on the final day of the season for UCA to secure its third consecutive championship Saturday at Ting Stadium. “We pitched and played defense so well,” coach Rob Shore said. “These guys decided they wanted it and they came out here and did…

30 May

Duo keeps hoop dreams alive following high school season

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Elijah Woodle, Prep Basketball, Randleman Tigers, Tyshaun Goldston

Tyshaun Goldston, left, and Elijah Woodle have been working out with Mid-State Magic while competing in spring basketball tournaments. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) GRAHAM — Tyshaun Goldston of Randleman and Elijah Woodle of Asheboro completed their high school basketball careers, but they have additional hoop dreams. They’re teammates with the same travel club looking for a shot to latch on with college programs. “I wanted another chance,” Woodle said. Woodle, a guard, and Goldston, a versatile player with a wide skill set, are members of the Graham-based Mid-State Magic. They have tournaments to play in this spring, hoping to…

29 May

UCA coach takes role with college summer team … but state finals are priority

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, High Point-Thomasville HiToms, McCrary Park, summer college baseball

Coach Rob Shore has more time left with the Uwharrie Charter Academy baseball team this season before turning his attention to a new summer league role with the High Point-Thomasville HiToms in the Coastal Plain League. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO — Uwharrie Charter Academy baseball coach Rob Shore added another summer gig and that will have him in Randolph County for some games. Shore has taken the job as head coach of the High Point-Thomasville HiToms of the Coastal Plain League, a collegiate summer circuit. But first, he has the business of guiding UCA into the Class 1A state…

28 May

County checks on election equipment upgrades

Bob SuttonNewsMelissa Kirstner, Randolph County Board of Elections

Michelle Mrozkowski with Printelect gives a demonstration earlier this month of voting equipment at the Randolph County Board of Elections. (Jann Ortiz / For Randolph Record) ASHEBORO — A demonstration of new voting equipment was a step toward possible upgrades for Randolph County machines. Melissa Kirstner, elections director of the Randolph County Board of Elections, said the goal is to provide voting results in a faster manner. “The reason we did (the demonstration) is we have equipment with some of it that is 10 years old,” Kirstner said. “Our board is talking about whether we want to update equipment or software.”…

27 May

ZooKeepers set to embark on another season

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, Hunter Atkins, Korey Dunbar, McCrary Park, summer college baseball

ASHEBORO — The Asheboro ZooKeepers begin another baseball season this week, with the home opener set for Friday night at McCrary Park. Third-year coach Korey Dunbar will direct the ZooKeepers, who finished their 2024 season with seven consecutive victories. There’s scheduled free admission as part of what the ZooKeepers, a summer collegiate team, are labeling a fanfest for an exhibition game against Randolph County Post 45 on Tuesday night. Asheboro plays its first Coastal Plain League game Thursday night against the host Holly Springs Salamanders. Friday’s home game is against the High Point-Thomasville HiToms. Game times are set for 6:30…

26 May

Toyota promotes Stewart to top position in Liberty

Bob SuttonNewsDon Stewart, Greensboro-Randolph megasite, Liberty, Toyota

Don Stewart (Courtesy photo) LIBERTY — There’s a change at the top of the Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina plant as operations at the site continue to ramp up. Sean Suggs, who had been president at the Liberty plant, is retiring. Don Stewart is next up as president at the plant. He has been vice president of manufacturing for the facility. Stewart had been with Toyota since 1997 as a maintenance group leader at a plant in Buffalo, West Virginia. In 2018, he moved to Hino Motor Manufacturing before rejoining Toyota in 2021. He had held a role of plant operations…