Sports - Randolph Record

16 Mar

A day filled with memories: Scenes from the Class 1-A title game

Randolph RecordSportsclass 1-A, Devonte Brooks, Eastern Randolph, nchsaa, Prep Basketball, Reynolds Coliseum

Members of the Eastern Randolph team pose for a team photo after the championship game. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) RALEIGH – Saturday was a special day for Eastern Randolph as the Wildcats played in a state championship in basketball for the first time. The result was a loss to Wilson Prep in the Class 1-A boys’ final at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh. Still, there were memorable moments as the team’s historic season came to a close. The season concluded with a 29-3 record and plenty of positive memories for the Piedmont Athletic Conference and Class 1-A West Region champions.

15 Mar

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Kynley Brewer

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, high school sports, Prep softball, prep sports, softball, Uhwarrie Charter Academy

Uwharrie Charter Academy, softball Brewer drove in runs last week in a pair of victories for the Eagles. Brewer, a senior, scored two runs and knocked in a row against Trinity. She had two hits, two runs batted in, and scored in a run in a game at Asheboro. She was credited with two stolen bases in each game. UCA won 17-0 at Trinity in its Piedmont Athletic Conference opener in a game that lasted three innings as the Eagles posted an eight-run second inning and nine-run third inning. Then there was a 10-0 result in a non-conference game at…

14 Mar

Prep softball: Patriots go through process in new season

Bob SuttonSportsEmma Mazzarone, Macie Crutchfield, Prep softball, Providence Grove athletics, Providence Grove softball, Southwestern Randolph

Providence Grove’s Leela Von Der Hay tags out Southwestern Randolph’s Madison Varner. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) CLIMAX – Some growing pains are going to be part of the process for Providence Grove’s softball team this season. That’s fine with coach Tim Brown as long as the Patriots show progress. Providence Grove was undefeated in the regular season last year, but five starters are gone from that team. “Comparing everything to last year would be difficult for everybody,” senior pitcher Emma Mazzarone said. “It was a special team. This year could be special, too. You can’t compare to last year because it…

13 Mar

Prep Roundup: Tigers begin PAC baseball slate with shutouts

Randolph RecordSportsAndrew Canter, Prep baseball, prep soccer, Randleman baseball, Tanner Marsh

Randleman’s Austin Lemons delivers a pitch last Thursday at Eastern Randolph. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Randleman’s baseball team was in good form on the mound when Piedmont Athletic Conference play began. The Tigers posted two shutouts against Eastern Randolph, winning 9-0 at home in the first matchup and then two nights later prevailing 5-0 in Ramseur. Austin Lemons was the winner in the second meeting. The Tigers haven’t lost a conference game since 2019. Providence Grove and Southwestern Randolph split a pair of games to open their PAC schedules. Providence Grove won 95 at home before the Cougars claimed the rematch…

11 Mar

NOT QUITE ENOUGH: Eastern Randolph boys fall in 1-A state final

Randolph RecordSportsclass 1-A, Devonte Brooks, Eastern Randolph athletics, Johnny Thomas, nchsaa, Prep Basketball

Eastern Randolph coach Johnny Thomas consoles Devonte Brooks, left, as Will Stalker looks on after the Class 1-A state final. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) RALEIGH – The greatest basketball season in the history of Eastern Randolph had a sour ending. The Wildcats needed one more comeback and couldn’t quite generate it, falling 84-73 to Wilson Prep in the Class 1-A state championship game for boys' basketball Saturday afternoon at Reynolds Coliseum. “These boys have dedicated everything they possibly could to the sport of basketball the last four months,” Eastern Randolph coach Johnny Thomas said. “We have nothing to be sad over.”…

10 Mar

Ex-Globetrotters guide Eastern Randolph, Wilson Prep to Class 1-A state final

Randolph RecordSportsclass 1-A, Eastern Randolph, Eastern Randolph athletics, Johnny Thomas, nchsaa, Prep Basketball

Coach Johnny Thomas has his Eastern Randolph team in the Class 1-A state final. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) The coaches for the two teams in the Class 1-A state championship game for boys’ basketball own a common background. Johnny Thomas of Eastern Randolph and Anthony Atkinson Jr. of Wilson Prep both played for the Harlem Globetrotters. Eastern Randolph is going for the school’s first state championship in basketball when it plays Wilson Prep on Saturday afternoon. The state final is scheduled for noon at Reynolds Coliseum on the North Carolina State campus in Raleigh. The only previous appearance in a state…

09 Mar

Caraway set to begin with Dogwood 250

Randolph RecordSportsCaraway speedway, Stock car racing

SOPHIA – Caraway Speedway opens its 58th season of stock-car racing Sunday with the running of the Dogwood 250. The Dogwood 250 will feature 100-lap features for the SMART Modified Tour and the speedway’s regular Late Models plus a 50-lapper for the 602 Modifieds. Legend cars and Bandoleros also are on the card. Racing is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. The speedway used the Dogwood 250 name to honor the early spring events once held at Martinsville Speedway in the heyday of Modified and Late Model sportsman racing, according to information from the speedway. Many of the SMART Modified…

08 Mar

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Madison Varner

Randolph RecordSportsAOTW, athlete of the week, high school softball, high school sports, Prep softball, prep sports

Southwestern Randolph, softball Varner had a game-winning single in the ninth inning of the Cougars’ season-opening victory against visiting North Stanly. Varner, a senior, is trying to help the Cougars to another winning season. She was a regular in the lineup a year ago. This week, the Cougars begin Piedmont Athletic Conference play. They won their final five PAC regular-season games last spring.

07 Mar

College baseball: Thomas notches wins at UNCG; Gardner receives USA South honors

Bob SuttonSportsBrody Gardner, College baseball, Eastern Randolph, Luke Thomas, Providence Grove, Randleman, Randleman baseball, Ryan White

Luke Thomas at UNCG Several alums from Randolph County schools have produced notable opening stretches in their collegiate baseball careers. Providence Grove alum Luke Thomas was the winning pitcher in his collegiate debut, throwing 1 2/3 shutout innings when UNC Greensboro defeated Northeastern on Feb. 18 in the second game of the season. The Spartans scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. The next day, Thomas took the loss when giving up four late-inning runs to Northeastern. In the season’s second week, Thomas had two outings against Notre Dame, throwing one hitless inning in the second game…

06 Mar

Prep Roundup: Wheatmore girls start in good soccer groove; Mixed results in baseball, softball

Randolph RecordSportsBrent Haynes, Eli Gravely, Ellie Garrison, Emma Mazzarone, Hunter Atkins, Macie Crutchfield, prep athletics, Prep baseball, prep soccer, Prep softball, Rob Shore, Stratton Barwick, Summer Bowman

Providence Grove’s Rori Luther makes a move with West Davidson’s Marly Gouker approaching during last week’s game. West Davidson won 1-0. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Wheatmore opened the season with a 6-0 victory with Ellie Garrison scoring four goals against visiting Ledford last week in girls’ soccer. Natalie Bowman and Summer Bowman had the other goals. It was a nice start for the Warriors, who were undefeated Class 2-A state champions with a 25-0 record last year. Here are some other items of note from the opening week of the spring season: Baseball ** Randleman suffered an 11-0, six-inning loss March…