Sports - Randolph Record

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,…

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…

20 Apr

Record-setting Asheboro girl moves at fast pace on track

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Auman Jensen, Gracie Beane, Jalaya Showers, Mirianna Corea, prep track and field, randolph county athletes, Sion Murrain

Jalaya Showers of Asheboro has become a record-setting sprinter. (Bob Sutton/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Jalaya Showers has been a headliner for the Asheboro girls’ track and field team. She’s not alone among the Blue Comets. “This team is gunning for all the records,” coach Vincent Cable said. Asheboro set a brisk pace in many events in capturing the Randolph County Championships on Tuesday. Showers, a sophomore who recently became a school record-holder sprinter, won the 100 and 200 meters and participated on two winning relays. Asheboro had an overwhelming edge in points among the seven teams, scoring 184 to runner-up…

19 Apr

Randleman seeks new girls’ basketball coach

Bob SuttonSportsAudra Petty, Brandon Varner, Gracie Beane, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, Randleman athletics, Steve Rightmyer

Steve Rightmyer had the Randleman girls’ basketball team going in the right direction for much of his one season as coach. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Rightmyer’s one season produced another title RANDLEMAN – Randleman will be trying to keep a high winning percentage in girls’ basketball next season after another coaching change. Steve Rightmyer stepped away from the position after one season, though the Tigers maintained their perch atop the Piedmont Athletic Conference. He referred to the time commitment as being overwhelming in his situation. “It was a lot,” Rightmyer said. “I knew it would be.” Randleman went 20-7 last season,…

18 Apr

Randleman Tigers conjure more magic for PAC baseball supremacy

Bob SuttonSportsBraxton Walker, Jake Smith, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, Randleman Tigers, Seth Way, Trinity Bulldogs

Randleman’s Braxton Walker had a big impact at the plate and on the mound earlier this week. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) RANDLEMAN – Randleman had just enjoyed another one of those defining moments that seem to come so often for the school’s baseball team. There were various assessments of what that meant after Tuesday night’s 6-5, eight-inning victory against visiting Trinity. “We got to get better,” shortstop Jake Riddle said. “We got to.” While it wasn’t the smoothest outing for the Tigers, they again found a way. The result secured another outright Piedmont Athletic Conference regular-season championship and kept…

17 Apr

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Caroline DuVall

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Caroline DuVall, piedmont athletic conference, prep soccer, Providence Grove Patriots

Providence Grove, girls’ soccer DuVall had a strong week, notching a pair of goals for the Patriots. DuVall, a senior, generally excels on the defensive end for Providence Grove, which has registered four shutouts in its first 11 games. Providence Grove entered this week on a three-game winning streak with a 6-3-2 overall record. In those games, the Patriots outscored opponents by a combined 20-1 total. DuVall has had a busy school year. She was an All-Piedmont Athletic Conference selection in cross country and also competed for the Patriots’ girls swimming team. She qualified to compete in regionals in both…

16 Apr

Rookie captures second of twin features at Caraway Speedway

Randolph RecordSportsBryson Pickard, Caraway speedway, Stock car racing

Bryson Pickard claimed the top prize in one of the Challengers features Saturday night. (Courtesy photo) SOPHIA – Rookie driver Bryson Pickard won the second of two Challengers features Saturday night at Caraway Speedway. After finishing sixth in the first race, Pickard began on the pole for the second of the 30-lap events. Pickard and Gary Ledbetter took turns in the lead before Pickard drove from the front across the final 20 laps. Daniel Schadt, the fast qualifier earlier in the day, placed third, followed by Easton Brewer and points leader Brody Duggins. Duggins was the winner of the first…

15 Apr

Wheatmore Warriors make most of 14-inning experience

Bob SuttonSportsAyden Byrd, Payton Mooney, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Trey Byrd, Wheatmore Warriors

Wheatmore coach Trey Byrd watches a game earlier this month. (PJ Ward Brown/Randolph Record) Games on consecutive nights test endurance TRINITY – Wheatmore catcher Payton Mooney didn’t let the drain of spending 14 innings behind the plate in a baseball game last week get to him. “During the game, with adrenaline going, I felt fine,” Mooney said. “Fourteen innings is a long time.” The Warriors won that game at Southwestern Randolph, then the next night had a rematch at home. Fortunately for Wheatmore, the second game lasted just six innings, but that still meant 20 innings in catching gear across…

14 Apr

Prep Roundup: Southwestern Randolph, UCA keep torrid softball paces; Wheatmore girls roll in soccer

Randolph RecordSportsAlyssa Harris, Ellie Garrison, Kinzie Ivey, Macie Crutchfield, Macy Allred, Mollie Bulla, prep soccer, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics, Wheatmore athletics

Asheboro’s Chloe Chanmaly looks to make a move on Oak Grove’s Kyrstin Varmer during last week’s girls’ soccer game. Oak Grove claimed a 1-0 home victory. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Southwestern Randolph’s softball team remained unbeaten in the Piedmont Athletic Conference by winning two league games to go with a non-conference triumph last week. The Cougars completed the week with a 9-0 beating of host Randleman, highlighted by Alyssa Harris’ grand slam. Winning pitcher Macie Crutchfield struck out 11 batters and added to the offense with two runs batted in. Madelyn Smith scored three runs. Southwestern Randolph’s 7-3 triumph at Providence…

13 Apr

Prep Baseball: Randleman racks up another PAC title; UCA takes down Eastern Randolph twice

Randolph RecordSportsJake Riddle, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, Randleman baseball, Seth Way

RANDLEMAN – Randleman wrapped up another Piedmont Athletic Conference baseball championship by defeating visiting Providence Grove 8-1 on Friday night. The Tigers improved to 10-0 in league play. Randleman will be the top seed for the PAC Tournament in a couple of weeks, a spot clinched because the Tigers beat Wheatmore twice. Only Wheatmore can pull even with the Tigers, but that would require the Warriors winning their four remaining league games and Randleman losing twice to a sub-.500 Trinity team. Randleman has lost just two conference games in a four-season span. Jake Riddle struck out…