Blog - Randolph Record

26 Apr

Prep Roundup: UCA dethrones Cougars in softball; Plus, baseball, soccer, tennis results

Randolph RecordSportsEllie Garrison, Mid-Piedmont Conference, Mollie Bulla, piedmont athletic conference, prep athletics, Prep baseball, prep soccer, Prep softball, Prep tennis

ASHEBORO – Uwharrie Charter Academy scored two seven-inning runs to edge host Southwestern Randolph 4-3 in a game to determine the Piedmont Athletic Conference regular-season softball champion Thursday night. At 11-1 in PAC play, the Eagles finished a game ahead of defending champion Southwestern Randolph. It’s the school’s first PAC softball title. Aubrie Kauffman’s two-run bloop single provided the tying and go-ahead runs. UCA pitcher Mollie Bulla struck out 10 batters. Kenzie Hill and Jayla Hurley both scored two runs. Macie Crutchfield struck out eight for Southwestern Randolph. Earlier in the week, Bulla and Katelyn West blanked visiting Wheatmore 7-0.…

25 Apr

Liberty Antiques Festival ready for first go-around in 2024

Randolph RecordEvents, NewsLiberty, Liberty Antiques Festival, randolph county

STALEY – The Liberty Antiques Festival is scheduled from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 2855 Pike Farm Road. There are 400 dealers from more than 25 states expected to be present. Organizers say that items will include 18th to 20th-century furniture, accessories, pottery, glass, clocks, dolls, toys, military items, advertising memorabilia, decoys, jewelry, quilts, folk art, and “in the rough” country Americana. Admission is $10, with ages 12 and younger free. Parking is also free. The event is held twice a year – normally the last Friday and Saturday of April and the final Friday and Saturday of…

25 Apr

Baseball tourneys coming to Asheboro; Southwestern Randolph has coaching change

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro, McCrary Park, Mid-Piedmont Conference, NCISAA, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars

ASHEBORO – High school postseason baseball – and some softball – will be happening in Asheboro even if there’s not an in-county team involved. Next week, Asheboro will be the host school for next week’s semifinal and final rounds in the Mid-Piedmont Conference Tournament for both baseball and softball. Those matchups will come after quarterfinal games, which will definitely involve Asheboro, are contested at the site of the higher seeds. The baseball semifinals and final will be at McCrary Park. In baseball and softball, the Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament begins Monday with games at the highest seed. For baseball, Randleman…

24 Apr

Photos from Zoo City StrEAT Fest in Asheboro

Randolph RecordEntertainment, FeaturesAsheboro, North Carolina Zoo, Zoo City StrEAT Fest

A petting area with two tiny goats, a tiny pig and a rather large bunny was a hit with attendees Saturday at the Zoo City StrEAT Fest on Sunset Avenue in Asheboro. The event, to celebrate the North Carolina Zoo’s 50th birthday, included outdoor dining, live music and more. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

24 Apr

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Carlisle Dozier

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, athlete of the week, Carlisle Dozier, Mid-Piedmont Conference, prep soccer

Asheboro, girls’ soccer Dozier has provided an ideal final layer of defense for the Blue Comets. The senior goalkeeper has averaged nearly 10 saves per game this season. Her six saves helped the Blue Comets defeat Ledford last week. She also was credited with a late-game tip save to preserve a shutout of Central Davidson earlier this month. In March, she made 23 saves in a game. Dozier was a Mid-Piedmont Conference all-league selection last year. With a 9-3-1 record entering this week, the Blue Comets had already matched last season’s win total.

23 Apr

Caraway Speedway alters slate for Late Models

Bob SuttonSportsCaraway speedway, Darren Hackett, Late Models division, Stock car racing

Low car counts cause changes in key division SOPHIA – Changes are coming to the Late Models division just a few weeks into the Caraway Speedway season. After the division was scratched from the racing card for the first slated race of April because of low entry numbers, track officials revised the plan for that class. “We are not giving up on the division,” speedway owner Darren Hackett said, making it clear the class won’t be eliminated. “We will however, rework the 2024 schedule to give more teams the chance to compete with us without having a schedule that conflicts…

23 Apr

Superintendent presents budget for next school year

Bob SuttonNewsbudget, Education, North Carolina Governor's School, Randolph County Board of Education, Randolph County School System, Stephen Gainey

Salary increases make up bulk of expanded RCSS costs ASHEBORO – Stephen Gainey, superintendent of the Randolph County School System, submitted a proposed budget of nearly $27 million for the 2024-25 school year, representing an increase of almost 1.1 percent. The budget as presented last week to the RCSS board of education is listed at $26,846,240. That’s more than a $2 million increase from the proposal for this school year, which checked in at $24,762,040. The increase comes primarily, based on a report from finance officer Marty Trotter, from continuation costs (such as insurance increases, match in retirement increases, charter…

22 Apr

Prep Roundup: PAC softball race tightens after upset

Randolph RecordSportsAddie Flinchum, Asheboro Blue Comets, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Ellie Garrison, Macie Crutchfield, Natalie Bowman, Parker Kines, Prep baseball, prep soccer, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Taryn Waugh, UCA Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

Anaeli Puente Garza cuts between Randleman’s Jocelyn Segovia, left, and Lacy Nelson during last week’s game. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Fourth-place Eastern Randolph muddled the Piedmont Athletic Conference softball race by defeating first-place Southwestern Randolph 4-1 last week with Addie Flinchum striking out seven in the road victory. Uwharrie Charter Academy closed within a half-game of Southwestern Randolph by week’s end. The teams will meet April 25 at Southwestern Randolph to end the regular season. UCA nipped host Eastern Randolph 5-4 behind Mollie Bulla’s pitching. Jayla Hurley and Aubrie Kauffman both doubled and scored a run. Earlier in the week UCA,…

22 Apr

Downtown Asheboro walk comes with a cause

Randolph RecordEvents, NewsChild Abuse Prevention, downtown asheboro

ASHEBORO – The second annual Child Abuse Prevention walk will be held from 9-11:30 a.m. April 26 in downtown Asheboro. The Randolph County Department of Social Services and partners including Randolph Partnership for Children, Randolph County Emergency Services, Randolph County Public Health, Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Asheboro Police Department, Emmy's House Children's Advocacy Center, and Randolph County Guardian Ad Litem, are hosts for the event to raise public awareness during National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The event will begin with an opening ceremony, followed by a mile walk that will focus on advocating for prevention, building community capacity, and raising awareness…

21 Apr

Hitting his Mark: Sprinter gives boosts to Blue Comets

Bob SuttonSportsAdam Cole, Asheboro Blue Comets, Elijah Woodle, Lance Everhart, prep track and field, Randleman athletics, Ty Moton, Valentino Mark, Wheatmore athletics, Zach Hazelwood

Asheboro’s Valentino Mark leads at the beginning of the final leg of the 400-meter relay in the Randolph County Championships. (Bob Sutton/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Valentino Mark is in a hurry, and that’s showing. Mark set two personal-best times in a dominating performance in Tuesday’s Randolph County championships. “Time is ticking,” Mark said of his urgency as a senior. Mark, the triple jump champion, won the 100 and 200 meters and anchored the winning 400 relay as part of host Asheboro’s team championship. Teammate Lance Everhart was a four-time winner as the Blue Comets racked up 220 points to runner-up…