Blog - Randolph Record

05 May

Prep softball: Cougars’ bid for state-title repeat to begin at home

Randolph RecordSportsclass 1-A, Class 2-A, Kinzie Ivey, Prep softball, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state playoffs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Defending Class 2A softball state champion Southwestern Randolph will have at least three home games in the state playoffs if it advances based on the pairings and brackets that were revealed Monday. The Cougars are seeded No. 4 in the West Region. They open the postseason Tuesday night at home vs. No. 29 Chase. The winner moves into Friday’s second round against either No. 13 Bunker Hill or No. 20 Maiden. West Wilkes is the No. 1 seed in the West Region. Also in Class 2A, No. 15 seed Randleman opens at home vs. No. 15 Rutherfordton-Spindale Central. The winner…

04 May

Prep roundup: Wheatmore’s Marshall claims PAC golf title; UCA girls add to soccer win total

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Natalie Bowman, Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament, Prep golf, prep soccer, Ryan Marshall, Wheatmore Warriors

ARCHDALE — Ryan Marshall’s even-par 72 was the winning score in the Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament for boys’ golf last week at Holly Ridge Golf Links. Providence Grove was the team champion, with three golfers among the top 10. Marshall, also last year’s champion, posted 37 on the frontside and 35 on the back nine. Brady Collins of Providence Grove was the runner-up with 76, followed by Eastern Randolph’s Emmitt Frye (77), Trinity’s Bo Earnhardt (78) and Providence Grove’s Cooper Wright (79). Earnhardt was the 2024 runner-up. Providence Grove’s 333 total, aided by 10-place Ethan Porritt’s 86, was good for…

03 May

Prep baseball: UCA ends up second in PAC after sweeping Southwestern Randolph

Randolph RecordSportsAndrew Thomas, Brett Smith, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, Providence Grove Patriots, Randleman Tigers, Tate Andrews, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Uwharrie Charter Academy won twice in the final week of the regular season to secure third place in the Piedmont Athletic Conference baseball standings. The Eagles held off last-place Southwestern Randolph 8-1 and 3-2 in eight innings. Jose Ramirez had three hits and three runs batted in the first matchup, with Logun Wilkins notching the pitching victory. UCA’s Brett Smith went the distance in the second game, outdueling Jonah Campbell, who also worked a complete game. ** Third-place Trinity defeated fourth-place Eastern Randolph twice by scores of 14-3 and 5-1. Trinity’s Walker Parrish drove in five runs in the two…

03 May

Liberty adjusts festival schedule, sees work on park projects

Bob SuttonEvents, Newsfestivals, Freedom Park, Liberty, parks and recreation

LIBERTY — Liberty has reworked its festival schedule for 2025 in addition to a busy time for the town’s parks and recreation department. There was a spring festival and fall festival in 2024, but both have been set aside this year. Kolby Riddle, director of the parks and recreation department, said it’s about finding the right balance. The summer gathering, scheduled this year for July 12, remains in place. “That’s our biggest one,” Riddle said. The festivals generally feature food trucks, vendors with arts and crafts and baked goods and a kidszone. Inconsistent attendance, often related to the weather, had…

02 May

Hathcock claims dual wins at Caraway Speedway

Randolph RecordSportsCaraway speedway, Cody Norman, Justin Hathcock, Stock car racing

Justin Hathcock enjoys being in victory lane at Caraway Speedway. (Caraway Speedway photo) SOPHIA — Justin Hathcock won twice in the Chargers division on Saturday night at Caraway Speedway. Hathcock won from the pole position in the first race and finished ahead of runner-up Matthew Smith in both 20-lap events. Tyler Chapman and Richard Shofner were third and fourth, respectively, in both races. ** The 602 Modifieds race was won by Cody Norman, who withstood pressure from Dean Lowder to claim his first victory of the year at the track. Lowder ended up third behind Goby Grynewicz. In the second…

01 May

For Level Cross icon Dale Inman, next stop is N.C. Sports Hall of Fame

Bob SuttonSportsDale Inman, Level Cross, NASCAR, North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, Richard Petty, Stock car racing, Terry Labonte

Dale Inman sits for a recent interview at the former racing team’s headquarters in Level Cross. (Petty Family Racing) LEVEL CROSS — Dale Inman has just about spanned the globe because of his ties to motor sports and yet there’s something appealing when the famed NASCAR crew chief returns home. “I was born right here in Level Cross,” Inman said this week. “I’ve been dedicated to racing, and it has let us travel mostly all over the world. When you’re getting back and you see the sign that says ‘Level Cross,’ it lets you know you’re home.” Inman, 88, will…

30 Apr

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Natalie Bowman

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Class 2-A, Natalie Bowman, prep soccer, Wheatmore Warriors

Wheatmore, girls’ soccer It has been another high-scoring season for the senior midfielder. She has a team-leading 41 goals and nine assists to help the Warriors to another strong season. She posted six goals combined in two games last week. Bowman, who has tallied more than half of her team’s goals this year, has scored more than 30 goals in three of her four seasons, with her senior season turning out to be the most productive. The Warriors carried a 10-5 record into this week and they hold second place in the Piedmont Athletic Conference.

29 Apr

Opinions vary on league baseball tourneys as PAC opts out this year

Bob SuttonSportsEastern Randolph Wildcats, Jake Smith, Nate Cockman, piedmont athletic conference, Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament, Prep baseball, Providence Grove Patriots, Randleman Tigers, Rob Shore, Ryan Spencer, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

The Providence Grove baseball team will be completing its regular season this week. (Randolph Record) There’s no Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament in baseball this year, something that would have taken place this week. Instead, teams are wrapping up their regular seasons. Opinions vary on the topic of whether to hold a tournament. The decision to nix the tournament was made prior to the school year. “It’s fun to have,” Trinity coach Ryan Spencer said. “We always got to have a couple extra games.” Teams can play up to 24 regular-season games, so a tournament provided opportunities, in some cases, for…

28 Apr

Prep baseball roundup: Blue Comets find late-season boost

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Asheboro’s baseball team went into this week’s Mid-Piedmont Conference Tournament on a four-game winning streak. The Blue Comets toppled Jordan-Matthews twice in non-league play last week. A 10-2 home result came with Adam Curry and Gavin Allen leading the offense. Nolan Shaw and Mason Kotlowski combined for a shutout in the 11-0 road domination, with Cohen Caviness driving in four runs and notching three hits and Jacob Tevebaugh scoring three runs. ** Uwharrie Charter Academy and Wheatmore split Piedmont Athletic Conference games. UCA topped visiting Wheatmore 3-0 on Logun Wilkins’ four-hitter with 10 strikeouts. Jaxon Mabe scored two runs. The…

27 Apr

Prep Roundup: Southwestern Randolph secures PAC softball crown

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, piedmont athletic conference, prep soccer, Prep softball, Providence Grove Patriots, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

Southwestern Randolph outfielder Nauttica Parrish, left, and shortstop Alyssa Harris react after Parrish’s diving catch during a softball game earlier this season. (Randolph Record) ASHEBORO — Southwestern Randolph registered three shutouts in Piedmont Athletic Conference softball last week. Those latest zeroes added up to another conference championship. In building an 11-0 record in PAC play, the Cougars have notched nine shutouts. Last week’s trio of blankings began with Alyssa Harris tossing a no-hitter with 10 strikeouts in a 13-0, six-inning ripping of host Eastern Randolph. Kami Dunn knocked in four runs. Macie Crutchfield struck out 12 batters in a 5-0…