Sports - Randolph Record

15 Aug

Blue Comets spike Trinity in Black’s coaching return as new season begins

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Asheboro City Schools, Kim Black, nchsaa, Prep volleyball

Coach Kim Black directs her team during Monday night's season opener vs. Trinity. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Kim Black came back as a winner as Asheboro’s volleyball coach. Black’s third stint as coach of the Blue Comets began with Monday night’s 25-19, 25-17, 25-14 non-conference sweep of visiting Trinity at North Asheboro Middle School. Kaylen Nance provided 23 assists and Piper Davidson had 12 digs and eight kills for Asheboro. Sarah Hildreth’s six kills and three aces and Ellen Long’s five kills and four blocks also helped the cause for the Blue Comets. Black, the winningest coach in the…

15 Aug

Brannon drives in runs in first pro game

Bob SuttonSportsBoston Red Sox, Brooks Brannon, Florida Complex League, Randleman athletics, Randleman baseball

Brooks Brannon, shown here with Randleman during the Class 2-A state playoffs in May, has had a strong start to his professional career. (File photo) Ex-Randleman star then triples twice in second game Former Randleman catcher Brooks Brannon’s second professional plate appearance resulted in a two-run single Saturday in the Florida Complex League at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Fla. “It was amazing,” Brannon said of the feeling in a text to Randolph Record. Brannon, who was a ninth-round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox last month, went 1-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout in his debut for…

14 Aug

New Asheboro AD sees grand potential, calls Blue Comets ‘a sleeping giant’

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Asheboro High School, prep sports, prep wrestling, Steve Luck, Wes Berrier

Wes Berrier, the new athletics director for Asheboro High School, checks out the first day of football practice last week. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Wes Berrier’s view of athletics at Asheboro High School is one of great potential. He’d like to see the Blue Comets’ programs return to prominence. “A sleeping giant,” the new athletics director said. “I feel I’m coming in at a great time. I’m expecting big things as far as our athletics.” Berrier officially became the athletics director this summer, though he filled that role for the final couple of months of the 2021-22 school year…

13 Aug

Early showdowns dot Randolph County prep schedules

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, nchsaa, randolph county athletes, randolph county sports, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Wheatmore athletics

Asheboro boys' soccer players celebrate a goal during a game last year, which turned out to be a good season for the Blue Comets (File photo) High school sports games and matches for the 2022-23 school year begin next week with competitions that count on the records. For most sports in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, the first date for competition comes Monday (Aug. 15). Here are a few notable events on early schedules: • On Aug. 15, Southwestern Randolph travels to Central Davidson in the first boys’ soccer game with Jimmy Walker back in charge as coach…

12 Aug

Defending champ Cougars eager to see impact of changes for volleyball season

Bob SuttonSportsDarby Kennedy, nchsaa, prep sports, Prep volleyball, Southwestern Randolph, volleyball

Coley Shiflet is bound to be a key player again for Southwestern Randolph’s volleyball team. (File photo) Southwestern Randolph gears up for volleyball season after 2021 state title ASHEBORO — Southwestern Randolph’s volleyball team has a few different components this season. There will be a new offensive make-up and a key transfer with the Cougars. But one thing they don’t want to change is the rate of success. “There’s a lot of excitement in our gym,” coach Darby Kennedy said. “They want to hold onto the title and defend that title.” Southwestern Randolph is the reigning Class 2-A state champion.…

11 Aug

Troutman transfers out of UCA

Bob SuttonSportsAshton Troutman, basketball, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, prep sports, The Burlington School, UCA, Uwharrie Charter Academy

Basketball standout heads to private school for senior season BURLINGTON — One of the most highly recruited boys’ basketball players in Randolph County in the upcoming senior class will no longer will be playing for a school in the county. Ashton Troutman is transferring from Uwharrie Charter Academy to The Burlington School. He said he’s looking for more exposure and a higher level of competition. “Just being in a basketball environment and for a good team,” Troutman said. “I would have never flirted with the idea of leaving if it wasn’t for basketball.” Troutman, a 6-foot-7½, 205-pound post player, was…

10 Aug

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Logan Sawyer

Randolph RecordSportsbaseball, Logan Sawyer, prep sports, UCA

Uwharrie Charter Academy | baseball Sawyer, a senior infielder, wrapped up his final baseball season with Uwharrie Charter Academy in the spring. He landed a spot on the All-Piedmont Athletic Conference team. The Eagles finished the season with a 10-15 record after winning three games in the Class 1-A state playoffs. Their postseason run came to an end with a loss to eventual state runner-up Cherryville. During his senior year, Sawyer committed to play baseball at Division III Brevard College. He played this summer for the High Point Hushpuppies in the Old North State League, which is a summer circuit…

09 Aug

ZooKeepers coach departs after two seasons

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, Jeremy Knight, McCrary Park, Southern Alamance

Jeremy Knight decided to give up his job with the Asheboro ZooKeepers. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Jeremy Knight has stepped away from his roles with the Asheboro ZooKeepers. After guiding the Coastal Plain League baseball team for two seasons, he decided to resign as head coach and co-general manager. “It was becoming too much with two kids,” he said, calling it a family decision. “This year wore me out.” Knight’s record with the college summer team was 37-56, including a league-worst 14-33 mark this season. He’s returning to a teaching position at Southern Alamance High School. “It wasn’t because…

08 Aug

Area sports briefs: Charlotte teen wins Asheboro tourney; Caraway card wiped out

Randolph RecordSportsAmateur golf, Asheboro Municipal Golf Course, Caraway speedway, Connor Carter, Stock car racing

ASHEBORO – Neel Ladde of Charlotte won the Junior Amateur golf tournament during the weekend at Asheboro Municipal Golf Course. Ladde posted a total of 107 for 27 holes in the tournament that was reduced because of weather interfering. He had rounds of 36 and 71. Second place went to Lexington’s Steele Fischer (38-78) with 116 and third place went to Eastern Randolph rising senior Connor Carter (41-76) with 117. The 13-18-year-old age group had seven entrants, marking it the largest group in the tournament. Some golfers completed 12 holes before storms suspended play Saturday, so only the first nine…

06 Aug

Season fizzles on Post 45 in elimination loss

Bob SuttonSportsAdam Cole, American Legion baseball, Braylen Hayes, McCrary Park, Post 45, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh, Southeast Regional, Trey Way, Wilmington Post 10

Randolph County Post 45 team members go through their final postgame handshake line of the season Saturday at McCrary Park. ASHEBORO – This Randolph County Post 45 baseball team seemed built for big things. Too many big innings for opponents became the undoing for the host team in the American Legion’s Southeast Regional. “I definitely think we could have had a better season than this,” left fielder Adam Cole said. The end came with a 15-5 loss to Wilmington Post 10 in an elimination game Saturday at McCrary Park. The game was reduced to five innings by the mercy rule,…