Bob Sutton - Randolph Record

25 Apr

Randleman slams Trinity, secures another PAC baseball title

Bob SuttonSportsBraxton Walker, Jake Smith, John Kirkpatrick, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, Randleman Tigers, Ryan Spencer, Tate Andrews, Trinity Bulldogs

Randleman’s Braxton Walker unloads for a tiebreaking grand slam against Trinity in the Tigers’ PAC-clinching victory. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) RANDLEMAN — Randleman’s baseball team ended up in a familiar spot by the time the Piedmont Athletic Conference portion of its season was complete. The Tigers are in first place again. “I had no doubt,” pitcher / first baseman Braxton Walker said. “The guys come to practice and we and the team morale is as high as it ever has been.” The clinching victory came with an 8-1 decision against visiting Trinity on Friday night as John Kirkpatrick threw…

24 Apr

Furniture-related jobs take dip in county; High Point Market coming up soon

Bob SuttonEvents, Newsfurniture, High Point Market, randolph county, Randolph County Economic Development Corporation

Here's one of the world's largest dressers in Jamestown in nearby Guilford County. ASHEBORO — The number of furniture-related jobs has declined in recent years in Randolph County, but the impact from the furniture industry remains crucial in the county. The status of the furniture industry will be one of the major topics of conversation revolving around High Point Market, with the spring dates scheduled for April 26-30. This is an international trade fair for residential furniture and interior design. Lisa Bennett, manager for marketing and research with the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation, said a couple of years ago…

22 Apr

Champion teen driver from Asheboro goes full speed ahead

Bob SuttonSportsARCA, Asheboro, London McKenzie, Stock car racing

London McKenzie, a teenager from Asheboro, has a role with a racing team to compete in ARCA races this year. (Courtesy photo) ASHEBORO — At 15 years old, London McKenzie has already experienced the thrill of stepping out of a race car in victory lane. The Asheboro boy has been driving on various tracks since before he was a teenager. He’s a national champion. He’s in his first season with CW Motorsports in the ARCA series, steering the No. 93 Chevrolet. “Being in ARCA still feels like a dream to me,” McKenzie said. “Flying through the corners in a big-body…

21 Apr

College baseball: Atkins holds role with Catawba

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Catawba College, College baseball, Gage Miller, Hunter Atkins, Randleman Tigers

Hunter Atkins had a productive season with the Asheboro ZooKeepers last summer before his first season for Catawba. (Randolph Record) The roles for Hunter Atkins on the baseball field have evolved the past couple of years, but he’s still making contributions. The former Randleman standout is a left fielder for Catawba, which is one of the top Division II baseball teams in the country. Atkins played in 40 of Catawba’s first 44 games. He’s batting .317 with 11 doubles, two triples and 26 runs batted in. The No. 11 Indians began this week with a 32-12 record, including first-place mark…

18 Apr

County lures manufacturer to former Hughes Furniture site

Bob SuttonNewsDarrell Frye, randolph county

ASHEBORO — A manufacturer that has been mostly based in Mid-Atlantic states is coming to Randolph County. Gillespie Precast is expected to bring about 60 jobs across a five-year period to a location in the southwestern part of the county on High Pine Church Road based on this week’s announcement. Gillespie Precast is a family-owned and operated precast concrete manufacturer serving utility and site contractors in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia. “While we had several locations within North Carolina and Virginia targeted in our expansion plans, once we walked the property at High Pine Church Road it was…

13 Apr

Matchups set for spring break baseball games at McCrary Park

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Faith Christian, McCrary Park, Prep baseball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Wheatmore Warriors, Zookeepers

ASHEBORO — High school baseball teams from six counties will appear during the ZooKeepers Classic this week. Most of the scheduled 14 games include at least one team from Randolph County. Ten teams will play at least one game. There were slight schedule changes from original versions. Beginning Monday, there will be five days of competition, all with predetermined matchups at McCrary Park. The event is no longer a true tournament format, but it allows for more schools to participate and for coaches to better plan the week when some players might not be available. “Coaches said they want to…

08 Apr

Youth-related Easter events dot schedule around Asheboro

Bob SuttonEvents, NewsAsheboro Easter Eggstravaganza, Bicentennial Park, Easter

ASHEBORO — The Easter Eggstravaganza for area youth is scheduled for Saturday at Bicentennial Park. Presented by the Asheboro Cultural & Recreation Services, this is a free event from 10 a.m.-noon in downtown. “It’s a short and sweet thing we do every year," said Kelli King, program coordinator with the department. Ages 1-10 can participate in the egg hunt, while all participants receive a complimentary goodie bag as they leave. Hunt times are at 10 a.m. for younger groups (up to age 7) and 11 a.m. for older participants. “We do different times just because I don’t want a 4-year-old trying to grant eggs with…

07 Apr

Luther takes job with Asheboro girls’ team

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Prep Basketball, Wes Luther

Wes Luther (Courtesy photo) ASHEBORO — Wes Luther sees the challenges ahead for the Asheboro girls’ basketball program but also envisions the possibilities. So that was enough to put him back in charge of a high school varsity team as a head coach. “The job came open,” Luther said. “It gives me an opportunity to lead a program again and put my stamp on it.” Luther is a former boys’ coach at Providence Grove. He spent the past two seasons on the staffs with Asheboro’s football team and boys’ basketball team. This is Luther’s first assignment with a girls’ basketball…

04 Apr

Woodle’s sprint title boosts Asheboro in Randolph County championships

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Chase Farlow, Elijah Woodle, Freddie Mercado, Jalaya Showers, Jalial Timmons, Mirianna Corea, prep track and field, Randleman Tigers, Scarlett Hildreth, Ty Moton

Asheboro's Elijah Woodle had a busy and productive day in the Randolph County championships. (Jann Ortiz / For Randolph Record) ASHEBORO — Asheboro maintained its stronghold on the Randolph County Championships in track and field, though the boys’ team had a cast of some different point producers in Tuesday's meet. The Blue Comets were team champions for both boys and girls at the South Asheboro Middle School track. Asheboro senior Elijah Woodle wanted to prove he was the fastest in the county and that worked out for him. He won the 100-meter dash champion in 11.13 seconds. “It just makes…

03 Apr

Job fair in Randolph County designed for veterans

Bob SuttonEvents, Newsjob fair, Randolph County Veterans Services

ASHEBORO — A job fair combined with other information for veterans is scheduled for Saturday at South Asheboro Middle School. The Veterans Resource and Job Fair will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at South Asheboro Middle School. The event, which is sponsored and organized by the Randolph County Veterans Services Office, is designed exclusively for veterans, providing valuable resources and opportunities to enhance their lives post-service. Rita Honeycutt, veteran services officer, said this is a first-time event in the county. She said this is an opportunity for interaction and information that might not always be so accessible in rural areas for…