Bob Sutton

622 Posts
Post 45’s season ends with 11-inning loss in Southeast Regional

Post 45’s season ends with 11-inning loss in Southeast Regional

ASHEBORO – It took most of Saturday night before Randolph County Post 45 was dismissed from the Southeast Regional. The host team battled for 11 innings with Florence (S.C.) Post 1 before suffering a 5-4 loss at McCrary Park. “We’ve been playing all night,” Post 45 manager Ronnie Pugh said. “This was a classic. Our guys sucked it up and played.” Florence (29-5) is unbeaten in the double-elimination regional and will play Fuquay-Varina Post 116 (30-6) at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. If Fuquay-Varina wins, another winner-take-all game will follow. Post 45 ended the season with a 25-8 record, going 2-2 in…
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Blue Comets to stage first Fan Fest on Friday

Blue Comets to stage first Fan Fest on Friday

Asheboro High School seeks community interest ASHEBORO – The first Blue Comets Fan Fest for Asheboro High School athletics will be held Friday night at Lee Stone Stadium on campus. Athletics director Wes Berrier said the objective is to create a massive community event. “The main reason is trying to bridge that gap between the school and community,” Berrier said. “More or less building school spirit and building community spirit. It’s a great way for us to introduce our fall athletes and kind of showcase these teams.” Fall sports teams will be featured. The event begins at 7 p.m. and…
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Glitch in plan pins loss on Post 45 in Southeast Regional opener

Glitch in plan pins loss on Post 45 in Southeast Regional opener

ASHEBORO – Parts of a plan for Randolph County Post 45 played out well on the first day of the Southeast Regional for American Legion baseball. But there were a few things that Post 45 couldn’t anticipate Wednesday night at McCrary Park and that was part of the downfall. Columbia (Tenn.) Post 19 had two big innings and those turned into a 7-5 victory. “We had a plan and we executed it for the most part,” Randolph County manager Ronnie Pugh said. “They had two big hits.” Now Post 45 takes on Belleview (Fla.) Post 284 in an elimination game…
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Leonard takes baseball path with Post 45; Southeast Regional set to begin in Asheboro

Leonard takes baseball path with Post 45; Southeast Regional set to begin in Asheboro

 Second baseman Pierce Leonard of Randolph County Post 45 makes a play in the field earlier this season. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Pierce Leonard is a first-year member of the Randolph County Post 45 baseball team. There’s a reason that he pursued American Legion baseball this summer. Having finished his final high school year at Eastern Randolph after transferring from Uwharrie Charter Academy, Leonard chose baseball as a preference in terms of a sport to play in college. “I figured I could go farther with baseball than I could basketball,” Leonard said. He said he’ll play baseball at Guilford…
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ZooKeepers find different values in season

ZooKeepers find different values in season

Dallas Callahan has been with Asheboro’s Coastal Plain League team even before this year. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Tyler McPeak and Dallas Callahan have given the Asheboro ZooKeepers a veteran presence in different ways during the Coastal Plain League baseball season. McPeak is looking to polish his swing and plate approach in advance of a final season at Lenoir-Rhyne, where he has been a record-setting slugger. “I’ve always been a guy that feels there’s something else to be desired,” McPeak said. “Chasing perfection in an imperfect game.” Callahan opted for a final go-around in a collegiate summer league even…
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Hayes backtracks to Post 45, carves new path

Hayes backtracks to Post 45, carves new path

Braylen Hayes takes a swing for Randolph County Post 45 this summer. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Braylen Hayes didn’t anticipate being back with Randolph County Post 45 this summer, but he’s glad that opportunity existed. It’s turning out to be a good thing for Post 45 despite his unexpected availability. The former standout outfielder for Randleman didn’t make it to the finish line in his first college season at UNC Greensboro. “Just having too much fun in college. It went downhill and ended up not having the best grades,” Hayes said. “It was all on me. It’s good, though,…
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UCA alum, ZooKeepers pitcher Hill finds new college home

UCA alum, ZooKeepers pitcher Hill finds new college home

ASHEBORO – Hunter Hill arrived to play summer baseball with the Asheboro ZooKeepers while representing North Carolina Wesleyan. When he leaves, he’ll be heading to another college. Hill, a former Uwharrie Charter Academy pitcher, is transferring to Division II Belmont Abbey. “I’m excited about it,” he said. “I was happy to move up the ladder.” Hill pitched for two seasons for Division III N.C. Wesleyan without a loss on his record. The time in his first season with the ZooKeepers in the Coastal Plain League has given him confidence that he can be successful at a higher level. “It’s a…
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In review: UCA’s state titles highlight top area moments

In review: UCA’s state titles highlight top area moments

Members of the Uwharrie Charter Academy wrestling team celebrate a dual team state championship last winter. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) There were championships and near misses and an assortment of other superlatives associated with the 2022-23 school year for Randolph County high school teams. Uwharrie Charter Academy racked up a pair of team state championships in Class 1-A. The Eagles secured the dual team wrestling title and a few months later picked up the baseball crown. ** Eastern Randolph’s boys’ basketball team had its most successful season ever by advancing to the Class 1-A state championship game. Wilson Prep won the…
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Check on college-bound athletes from area schools

Check on college-bound athletes from area schools

Jake Little of Trinity made a big impact in baseball for the Bulldogs and he’ll continue playing in 2024. (File photo) Here’s a check on some of Randolph County’s top athletes from the Class of 2023 with their college intentions: ** Asheboro’s Nicolas Chavez signed to go to UNC Asheville for men’s track and field. He was a hurdler and pole vaulter for the Blue Comets. ** Katelyn Thomas of Asheboro is headed to Anderson (S.C.) University to play women’s tennis. She has been on the Mid-Piedmont Conference all-conference team the past two years. ** Diego Gutierrez of Asheboro is…
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Candidates secure spots for November ballot in Randolph County

Candidates secure spots for November ballot in Randolph County

ASHEBORO – There will be five candidates for three spots on the City of Asheboro City Council. Candidates to file by Friday’s deadline are Eddie Burks, Jane Hughes Redding, Charles Swiers, Harry Okeke and Joey Trogdon. Burks, Redding and Swiers are incumbents. ** For the Asheboro City Schools Board of Education the candidates are incumbents Gidget Kidd, Ryan Patton and Gwenn Williams along with Melissa Calloway and Todd Dulaney. ** Mayor Filmore York will run unopposed in Liberty. Greg Carpenter and incumbent Don Herndon are the filers for Liberty town commissioner. ** In Franklinville, Priscellia Dunn and L. McKay Whatley…
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