Bob Sutton - Randolph Record

02 Jul

Southwestern Randolph grad Coleman transfers to North Carolina for softball

Bob SuttonSportsAlex Coleman, College softball, North Carolina Tar Heels, Southwestern Randolph Cougars

Southwestern Randolph graduate Alex Coleman has joined North Carolina’s softball team. (Courtesy photo) Former Southwestern Randolph player follows college coach Alex Coleman said she relished her time as a college softball player at Marshall. She said she’s hoping for something even more as she follows her coach to North Carolina. The former Southwestern Randolph standout has become a Tar Heel. “I kind of made a decision to enter the (transfer) portal and it was a really hard decision,” Coleman said. Megan Smith Lyon left her position as Marshall’s coach to take the position at North Carolina, her alma mater. The…

01 Jul

Post 45 learns hard lessons as winning streak ends

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Grat Dalton, Josh Meadows, Post 45, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh, Tanner Marsh

Samuel Asbill of Randolph County Post 45 throws a pitch during a victory at Chatham County. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – A dose of reality during the past week might not be as bad as it looked for Randolph County Post 45. The American Legion baseball team had breezed through much of its schedule for the first month of the season. Then in a pair of Area 3 North Division games against High Point-Thomasville Post 87, things didn’t go its way. “Ego got too high,” catcher Grat Dalton said. “We beat everybody. We thought less of this team and should…

30 Jun

ZooKeepers show signs of breaking through

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, Korey Dunbar, McCrary Park, summer college baseball, Tyler McPeak

Jay Dillard had a three-run double and then scored a run for the Asheboro ZooKeepers against Holly Springs on Thursday night. (Photo courtesy of ZooKeepers) ASHEBORO – The Asheboro ZooKeepers didn’t make a push for the first-half title in the Coastal Plain League’s West Division. But they did develop momentum and created some good vibes by the midway mark of the season. Among the highlights was Thursday night’s 5-4, 10-inning victory against visiting Holly Springs Salamanders at McCrary Park. “We strung a couple of nights like that together,” first-year ZooKeepers coach Korey Dunbar said. “We’re starting to finish games.” The…

29 Jun

Big turnout witnesses Larson, others at Caraway Speedway

Bob SuttonSportsCaraway speedway, Jason York, Kyle Larson, Layne Riggs, Stock car racing

SOPHIA – It was as much about the scene as it was the racing Wednesday night at Caraway Speedway. And the racing was pretty good. The biggest crowd in at least a decade showed up at the speedway and there was quite a show. The main event was the 125-lap CARS Tour Late Models feature. The first to cross the finish line in the Firecracker 125 was Layne Riggs. But by Thursday, his victory had been overturned because of a failed post-race inspection. So Riggs was disqualified and that moved Jared Fryar into the first-place spot. Riggs was steering a…

28 Jun

More poll workers sought for elections in Randolph

Bob SuttonNewselection, needed, poll workers, vote

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Board of Elections is making a push to replenish its roster of poll workers. Melissa Kirstner, director of the Randolph County Board of Elections, has described an urgent need to secure more workers. “We always really scramble to find people to work,.” Kirstner said. “It’s a long day, and a lot of people can’t make that commitment.” Workers are needed for early voting days as well as Election Day. Kirstner said more than 25 percent – and perhaps up to one-third – of the election workers have dropped off the list in Randolph County in…

28 Jun

Senate resolution honors Tillman’s legacy

Bob SuttonNewsrandolph county, Sen. Jerry Tillman, senate resolution, Senator Tillman

A North Carolina state senate resolution honoring the life and memory of former state Sen. Jerry Tillman passed last week. Tillman spent nine terms in office representing Randolph County before stepping down in 2020. He died Feb. 4 at age 82 in Greensboro. In part, Senate Resolution 753 states: “The Senate wishes to express its highest appreciation of Jerry Wayne Tillman, former State Senator, as a citizen and public servant and extend its sympathy to his family for the loss of its distinguished member.” The resolution’s sponsors included David Craven, who has filled Tillman’s seat. Senior president pro tem Phil…

25 Jun

No speed traps: Cougars’ Cole burns at rapid clip

Bob SuttonSportsAdam Cole, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, prep football, prep track and field, Southwestern Randolph Cougars

Southwestern Randolph’s Adam Cole runs behind teammate Eli Gravely during a 2022 football game. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Southwestern Randolph product seeks more fast times in football ASHEBORO – Adam Cole figured out pretty early that the best way to make an impression was to do it fast. He sprinted to a special high school career for Southwestern Randolph. It mostly came about through football and baseball, allowing his foot speed to set him apart. By his senior year, he became the face of the football program. “It’s kind of a role I have to take,” he said. “It’s not like…

16 Jun

Post 81 sponsors younger team, skips American Legion season

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Eastern Randolph Post 81, Nate Cockman

Eastern Randolph Post 81 pitcher Samuel Asbill throws to a Foothills batter last year. This year, Asbill is on the Randolph County Post 45 roster. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) RAMSEUR – There’s no American Legion baseball season for Eastern Randolph Post 81 this year, but planning for the future is being emphasized. Low player availability surfaced last year. Without a clear remedy for that, organizers opted to focus on younger players who might help revive the program. “We didn’t want to field a team with 11 guys and then not be able to play some nights,” said Nate Cockman, who was…

11 Jun

ZooKeepers take winding path to slow start

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, Forest City, McCrary Park, summer college baseball, UNCG

Members of the Asheboro ZooKeepers hang out at the dugout at UNCG. (Photo courtesy of ZooKeepers) GREENSBORO – College baseball players arrived to play a summer season in Asheboro. So far, they’ve played only elsewhere. That’s just part of the rough opening stretch of the season for the Asheboro ZooKeepers. “It’s a little strange,” said third baseman Tanner Thomas, who plays collegiately for Longwood. “We’re very thankful that we have a place like this to play.” He was referring to UNC Greensboro Baseball Stadium. With a renovation project behind schedule at McCrary Park, the ZooKeepers have mostly played road games…

07 Jun

Toyota bolsters plans for battery plant

Bob SuttonNewsauto industry, automotive plant, battery plant, Toyota, toyota usa

LIBERTY — The Toyota manufacturing project at the Greensboro-Randolph megasite keeps getting bigger. Toyota announced last week that the under-construction battery plant at the megasite would receive an additional $2.1 billion investment because of an assembly plant in Kentucky that will build battery electric SUVs. The Kentucky operation will commence in 2025. Toyota’s release said the boost in the North Carolina project comes “to support the company’s drive toward carbon neutrality.” “Toyota’s continued commitment in North Carolina confirms our status as a manufacturing powerhouse,” North Carolina Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger said. “This expansion further cements our thriving partnership,…