Sports - 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

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Gabi Carter

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Gabi Carter, PAC, piedmont athletic conference, Prep volleyball, Randleman Tigers

Randleman, volleyball Carter was rated among Randleman’s top producers in several categories during her senior season on the volleyball team. She was the leader among the Tigers in service percentage and second on the team in aces. She also made strong contributions in blocks and kills per set. She played as an outside hitter and defensive specialist. Randleman racked up a 17-6 record in 2022 for its fifth consecutive winning season. Carter was also a member of Randleman’s Piedmont Athletic Conference champion girls’ basketball team. ** During the summer, we recognize seniors from the past school year.

27 Jun

Larson enters Caraway Speedway event

Randolph RecordSportsCaraway speedway, Kyle Larson, NASCAR, Stock car racing

SOPHIA – Kyle Larson has entered Wednesday night’s CARS Tour $10,000-to-win race at Caraway Speedway in a No. 5 car prepared by JR Motorsports. He will be seeking his first victory in a Late Models car in 10 years since winning on Daytona International Speedway’s backstretch short track. Larson, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion, will serve as a teammate to current series points leader and defending champion Carson Kvapil. “It’s really cool that Kyle is coming to Caraway with us,” Kvapil said according to information provided by the track. “He’s a NASCAR champion and one of those guys who…

26 Jun

ZooKeepers mark home debut with win

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, summer college baseball

Asheboro’s Jay Dillard reaches second base as the ball skips away from Boone’s Carlos Amezquita during last week’s game at McCrary Park. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The Asheboro ZooKeepers, a college summer league baseball team, finally got to play a game in their home ballpark. Even that situation lasted only so long. It was a winning endeavor for the ZooKeepers, who topped the visiting Boone Bigfoots 9-6 on Thursday night at McCrary Park. The second game of the Coastal Plain League doubleheader was wiped out during the first inning because of lightning and then rain. Jared Beebe and…

26 Jun

Post 45 makes most of home action

Randolph RecordSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Braylen Hayes, Hunter Atkins, McCrary Park, Pierce Leonard, Randolph County Post 45, Tanner Marsh

Randolph County Post 45’s Grat Dalton reaches for the plate but is tagged out by Cleveland County Post 82 catcher Hagan Hoyle. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Randolph County Post 45 won all three games it completed in its first games this year at McCrary Park in Asheboro. The weekend victories against three different opponents pushed Post 45’s record to 14-1. With stadium renovations incomplete, the Randolph County team played road games or at Randleman High School in the first few weeks of the season. Then games early last week were rained out. The three-day event at McCrary Park…

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…

24 Jun

Mid-Piedmont Conference all-conference spring lists

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Mid-Piedmont Conference, Prep baseball, Prep golf, prep soccer, Prep softball, Prep tennis, prep track and field, Tanner Marsh, Valentino Mark

Tanner Marsh of Asheboro was named the Player of the Year for Mid-Piedmont Conference baseball. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Here’s a list of the Mid-Piedmont Conference’s major award winners plus Asheboro’s all-conference selections for spring sports: Baseball Player of the Year: Tanner Marsh (Asheboro) Pitcher of the Year: Garrett Roark (Ledford) Coach of the Year: Kevin Goss (Ledford) Asheboro: Connor Adams, Davis Gore, Tanner Marsh. Boys’ golf Player of the Year: Aidan Wilson (Oak Grove) Coach of the Year: Randy Mercer (Ledford) Asheboro: David Elliott, Luke Payne Girls’ soccer Offensive Player of the Year: Keelan Moore (North Davidson) Defensive Player of…