Sports - Randolph Record

27 May

Randleman’s postseason run hits pause

Bob SuttonSportsClass 2-A, nchsaa, Randleman athletics, Randleman baseball, state playoffs

Randleman pitcher Drake Purvis delivers a pitch in the West Region finals Thursday night against Community School of Davidson in Mooresville. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) MOORESVILLE – Randleman’s baseball team finally encountered something in this Class 2-A state playoffs that it couldn’t conquer. “Can’t do anything about Mother Nature,” coach Jake Smith said while walking out of Moor Park on Thursday night. Yet the Tigers still did good work before Game 2 of the best-of-3 West Region final was suspended after four innings. They lead Community School of Davidson 5-0. Randleman carried a 30-1 record into the game, needing one…

26 May

ZooKeepers could be solid on mound

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, McCrary Park, summer college baseball

ASHEBORO – There will be a few returning players on Asheboro’s Coastal Plain League team, but by and large the 2022 roster will look different in many ways. An upgrade in experience is something that could benefit the ZooKeepers the most. “We try our best to get the best players you come across,” said head coach Jeremy Knight, who’s also the co-general manager and in his second year with the team. Asheboro posted a 23-21 record last year, when it was nicknamed Copperheads before an offseason rebranding. The ZooKeepers are slated for road games at Forest City and Holly Springs…

26 May

Randleman’s Brannon bashes two homers, ties state record held by dad

Bob SuttonNews, Sports

Randleman’s Brooks Brannon connects on his 20th home run of the season, tying the state record as the Tigers opened the Class 2-A West Region finals with a blowout victory. PJ WARD-BROWN/RANDOLPH RECORD RANDLEMAN – Brooks Brannon didn’t have to be reminded that he was approaching the state record for home runs in a season. The Randleman slugger has been fully aware of the number to reach. It’s a mark set by his father, Paul Brannon, 33 years ago. Now the elder Brannon has company on that list. “I have been thinking about it,” Brooks Brannon said. “I think about…

25 May

Prep Roundup: Special softball season ends for Patriots

Randolph RecordSportsbaseball, prep sports, soccer, softball

Wheatmore’s Ellie Garrison takes a shot and scores a goal against East Davidson during a second-round victory in the Class 2-A state playoffs last Thursday. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL CLIMAX — Providence Grove’s magical softball season came to a close with Friday night’s 1-0 home loss to West Stokes in the fourth round of the Class 2-A state playoffs. The Patriots, who were the top seed in the West Region, were doomed by a lead-off home run in the fourth inning. Fifth-seeded West Stokes advanced to the regional finals. Providence Grove finished with a 24-1 record. Emma Mazzarone struck out…

25 May

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Tess Moody

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro, athlete of the week, prep sports, Tess Moody

Asheboro | girls’ soccer The Blue Comets posted three goals last week in two victories in the Class 3-A state playoffs. Moody scored all of those goals. Asheboro beat Foard 2-1 and then topped Hibriten 1-0. Those results allowed the Blue Comets to advance to this week’s third round. Moody, a junior, is among the top three on the team in goals and assists.

23 May

ZooKeepers hope to open renovated McCrary Park on Saturday

Bob SuttonNews, SportsCopperheads, ZooKeppers

Turf is being installed on the infield during Phase 1 of the McCrary Park renovations last week in Asheboro. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL ASHEBORO — It’s a race to the finish line for the Asheboro ZooKeepers baseball team. Renovations at McCrary Park have been ongoing, with installation of a field turf beginning last week. The Coastal Plain League season begins this week for the team that plays on the summer college circuit. This project will come in phases and this first version has been ongoing for months. There’s a home opener on the docket for Saturday night against the Wilson…

23 May

Allred jumps to second in state meet

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Eastern Randolph athletics, nchsaa, prep track and field, Randleman athletics, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, State meet

Southwestern Randolph's Josie Allred clears the bar in the high jump in the Class 2-A state meet Friday at North Carolina A&T. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) GREENSBORO – Senior Josie Allred of Southwestern Randolph was the runner-up in the Class 2-A high jump for girls in Friday’s state championships at North Carolina A&T. Allred cleared the bar at 5 feet, 2 inches – the same height as winner Katarina Kepley of West Davidson along with East Carteret’s Latecyia Johnson and SouthWest Edgecombe’s Jer’Lisha Pridgen. Based on number of attempts, Kepley was the champion. Johnson and Pridgen shared third place.…

21 May

Finding the Way: Randleman takes normal path to another rout

Bob SuttonSportsBrooks Brannon, Class 2-A, Drake Purvis, Prep baseball, Randleman athletics, Randleman baseball, state playoffs, Trey Way

Trey Way and his teammates react to his game-sealing home run Friday night against East Surry. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) Tigers ruin showdown, head to regional final RANDLEMAN – The fourth round of the Class 2-A state playoffs shaped up as an epic showdown between two one-loss baseball teams. As the national anthem played, the line at the entrance gate had dozens of fans waiting to get in – and stayed that way for quite a while. The scene at Joe Brookshire Field had all the makings of a classic. Then Randleman did its thing – again. The Tigers…

18 May

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Ellie Garrison

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Ellie Garrison, soccer, Wheatmore

Wheatmore | girls’ soccer Garrison racked up more big offensive numbers as the Warriors completed an undefeated regular season with two more victories last week. Garrison, a sophomore, produced four goals and one assist in a 12-3 triumph against visiting Uwharrie Charter Academy. Summer Bowman was credited with five goals and three assists, Natalie Bowman posted two goals and one assist and Maggie Messner had a goal in that game. Garrison followed that a day later with six goals and one assist in the 9-0 romp past host Providence Grove to conclude the Piedmont Athletic Conference portion of the…

18 May

Prep Roundup: Soccer teams start state playoffs strong at home

Bob SuttonSportsbaseball, Golf, prep sports, soccer, softball

Asheboro and Uwharrie Charter Academy won opening-round games in the state playoffs for girls’ soccer Monday night. Asheboro defeated visiting Foard 2-1 behind two goals from Tess Moody in Class 3-A. Natalie Flores had an assist and goalkeeper Sarah Allred made nine saves. UCA topped Piedmont Community 7-0 in Class 1-A, with Ava Cugino posting two goals and one assist, Kendall Jarrell scoring twice and Chloe Douglas, Kaylen Trucks and Ivy Redding all providing one goal. Second-round games are set for Thursday. A pair of Class 2-A teams from Randolph County failed to advance, while undefeated Wheatmore was slated to…