Sports

Randleman girls will seek more after deep run

Randleman girls will seek more after deep run

Randleman’s Audra Petty shoots a 3-pointer against Shelby during the Class 1-A West Regional semifinals March 1 at Randleman. RANDLEMAN – Another deep run into the state playoffs for the Randleman girls’ basketball team might just be incentive to take it another round or two next time. “We’ll be back,” coach Brandon Varner said. “We’re close. We’ve just got to keep getting after it, building toward next year. We’ll be back.” The Tigers finished the season with a 25-1 record, with the only loss coming in the Class 2-A regional semifinals. When defending state champion Shelby knocked off host Randleman…
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Prep Notes: Providence Grove softball coach nabs milestone in opening game

Prep Notes: Providence Grove softball coach nabs milestone in opening game

Eastern Randolph’s Brody Gardner hits a double against visiting North Moore in a baseball game Friday. North Moore won 11-8.   Providence Grove softball coach Tim Brown picked up his 100th career victory when the Patriots defeated host Southern Guilford 14-0 to open the season last week. Assistant coach Andy Beane has been there for each of those victories. Makayla McClain, who homered twice in that game, scored four runs for Providence Grove. Mailey Way, who hit two doubles, drove in five runs. Emma Mazzarone pitched the shutout in the game reduced to five innings. Best of seven Two track…
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Asheboro names scoreboard after former softball coach

Asheboro names scoreboard after former softball coach

Carol McCauley, left, and assistant coach Kristen Faircloth help unveil of the new softball field scoreboard in memory of former coach Lisa Robertson at Asheboro High School on March 2. ASHEBORO – Asheboro High School has a new scoreboard at its softball field named after former coach Lisa Robertson. The dedication ceremony took place last week prior to this season’s home opener. “She left an indelible mark on not just coaches and staff, but also look at all the people around here,” athletics director Steve Luck said after the ceremony. “Former players are bringing their kids back to see the…
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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Macie Crutchfield

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Macie Crutchfield

Macie Crutchfield  |  Southwestern Randolph, softball Crutchfield began her career by pitching a shutout and she added to that list of early accomplishments later in the week. Crutchfield, a freshman, threw a one-hitter with five strikeouts and one walk when the Cougars blanked host Oak Grove 3-0 in their first game of the season. Later in the week, she struck out 15 batters in a 7-0 defeat of visiting Central Davidson. Crutchfield gave up five hits and three walks in her second outing in the circle. On offense in that game, Maddie Varner and Madeline Smith both drove in two…
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Miller’s slam gives Blue Comets memorable baseball opener

Miller’s slam gives Blue Comets memorable baseball opener

Gage Miller remembers the details of his final at-bat in the season opener for Asheboro’s baseball team. After that, it becomes a little less clear. Miller’s game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning sent the Blue Comets to a 5-3 victory against Chatham Central last week at Kiwanis Park in Asheboro. “That was something different right there,” Miller said. “My teammates were fired up. Came across home plate and we were all going crazy.” Miller said it’s his first grand slam. Of course, it came at an ideal time. The Blue Comets needed his production. “The game…
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Prep basketball: Season comes with highlights for area teams

Prep basketball: Season comes with highlights for area teams

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Alijah Barker shoots the ball against Albemarle’s Walker Wilkins in the first round of the Class 1-A state playoffs Feb. 22 at Uwharrie Charter Academy in Asheboro. Basketball season came to a close for Randolph County boys’ teams in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association by the end of the second round last week. On the girls’ side, only Randleman and Uwharrie Charter Academy made it to the weekend’s third round. Randleman’s season was still going this week. Here are a few notables as the postseason unfolded: Patriots tripped by familiar foe Providence Grove’s boys’ season-ending…
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Black returns to Asheboro volleyball team

Black returns to Asheboro volleyball team

ASHEBORO – It turns out Kim Black was pulled back to Asheboro High School volleyball after all. She’ll be in her third stint as coach of the program, where she won a state championship, when the season begins in the late summer. “I can’t make any promises except to promise to do my best,” Black said. She’s the all-time winningest coach at Asheboro, holding a 246-97 record as a varsity coach. She directed the Blue Comets to three state finals, including the Class 3-A title in 1994, and eight conference crowns. Black has made the rounds among schools in Randolph…
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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Elizabeth York

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Elizabeth York

Elizabeth York  |  Randleman, girls’ basketball York, a junior guard, had three productive games as the Tigers advanced through three rounds of the Class 2-A state playoffs. She averaged 19 points in those games. It began when York piled up 22 points as Randleman stomped Shelby Burns 64-17 in the opening round. Next, she compiled 24 points in Randleman’s 64-53 victory against Wilkes Central. York tacked on 11 points in a 63-43 decision against Lincoln Charter. Those results left the Tigers with a 25-0 record going into a West Region semifinal against Shelby.
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Area wrestlers stick with it for solid finishes

Area wrestlers stick with it for solid finishes

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Doug Bowles lifts Mount Airy’s Connor Medvar in the air during the 170-pound bout in the Class 1-A finals Saturday at the Greensboro Coliseum. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL GREENSBORO – It was an encouraging start to the state tournament for Randolph County wrestlers Thursday. And not a bad finish either by Saturday. Aside from state champions David Makupson (138 pounds, Class 2-A) of Trinity and Aldo Hernandez (132, Class 1-A) and Grayson Roberts (160 pounds, Class 2-A), there were solid performances that lasted all the way to their final matches. Randolph County wrestlers excelled in the first…
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Winning it all motivates state champs Makupson, Roberts, Hernandez

Winning it all motivates state champs Makupson, Roberts, Hernandez

Trinity’s David Makupson, top, controls Will Nix of Bandys in the Class 2-A 138-pound final Saturday at the Greensboro Coliseum. GREENSBORO – Contending for state championships in years past was part of the motivation for Trinity’s David Makupson and Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Grayson Roberts. Experiencing the winning feeling again was part of the quest for UCA’s Aldo Hernandez. All three wrestlers ended up as titlists Saturday at the Greensboro Coliseum. Makupson, a senior, put together a dominating four-match run through the 138-pound division in Class 2-A, winning the states after fourth-place finishes in each of the past two years. “Fourth…
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