Sports - Randolph Record

06 Apr

Ex-Randleman coach moves on

Randolph RecordSportsComets, Eastern Randolph baseball, Randleman football, Shane Handy, Southwestern Randolph baseball, Trinity Softball, Wheatmore softball

Former Randleman football coach Shane Handy stepped away from his coaching job after two seasons at Clayton High School. His resignation was announced last week. The Comets went 8-2 in the restructured 2020 season (played in the spring semester of 2021). Then they were 5-6 with a first-round loss to Heritage in the Class 4-A state playoffs in the 2021 fall season. Handy’s teams at Randleman went a combined 95-53 in 12 seasons. Baseball highlights Eastern Randolph pitcher Stratton Barwick struck out 11 batters in a 2-0 blanking of visiting Southwestern Randolph. In the rematch later in the week, Southwestern…

06 Apr

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Kara Comer

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, girls soccer, Kara Comer, prep soccer, Wheatmore athletics

Wheatmore | girls’ soccer Comer has been a steady producer on offense for the Warriors. She’s often surrounded by high-scoring underclassmen. Comer recorded a goal and five assists in last week’s 10-1 rout of visiting Eastern Randolph in a Piedmont Athletic Conference game. Then in a 4-1 non-league triumph at Southwest Guilford, she supplied another assist. With the Warriors’ 8-1 whipping of visiting Southwestern Randolph on Monday, they improved 9-0, including a 3-0 PAC mark. Comer had a goal and an assist in that game. Comer, a senior, had a standout career on the school’s girls’ tennis team as well.

30 Mar

Heady overcomes Labonte, others in Caraway event

Randolph RecordSportsBobby Labonte, Caraway speedway, Sophia

SOPHIA – Caleb Heady won a late-lap showdown with Burt Myers in Saturday night’s SMART Modified Tour race at Caraway Speedway. Bobby Labonte, a former NASCAR Cup Series driver, made a late pass of Matt Hirschman to gain third place. Brian Loftin placed fifth. Earlier leaders in the race included pole sitter Jonathan Brown, Luke Fleming, Bobby Measmer Jr. and Labonte. The SMART Tour will return to the track in June. In action among the Caraway Speedway regulars Saturday, Carson Loftin in the Modifieds while pole sitter Cody Norman was the runner-up. In a 40-lap Mini Stocks event, Tyler Bush…

30 Mar

Randleman coach picked for special honor

Randolph RecordSportsBrandon Varner, Coach of the year, Randleman

Coach Brandon Varner of the Randleman girls’ basketball team was selected as Coach of the Year for girls’ basketball in District 8 by the North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association. Varner led Randleman to an undefeated regular season and into the Class 2-A regional semifinals of the state tournament. The Tigers finished with a 25-1 record. Players chose for the All-District girls’ teams include teammates Gracyn Hall (first team) and Elizabeth York (third team) of Randleman, Alexis Maness (third team) of Southwestern Randolph and Autumn Gentry (third team) of Trinity. On the boys’ side, the All-District team has Zane Caudle of…

30 Mar

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Rob Hales

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, baseball, prep sports, Rob Hales, Wheatmore

Wheatmore | baseball Hales did important work on the pitching mound and at the plate as the Warriors won a pair of games against Eastern Randolph. Hales threw six innings in the first meeting, giving up one earned run and two walks while striking out 10 across in an 8-2 outcome. Three days later, Hales drove in two runs and had a double as the Warriors posted an 11-1 victory while compiling their highest run total of the season. Wheatmore improved to 4-5, winning its Piedmont Athletic Conference games for the first time and also capturing back-to-back games for the…

23 Mar

Ward claims Late Models win in Caraway opener

Randolph RecordSportsCaraway speedway, Chuck Wall, Josh Lowder, Sophia, Trevor Ward

SOPHIA – There was a different driver in a certain Late Models car but a familiar name behind the wheel when Caraway Speedway’s points season opened Sunday. It began the 57th season at the track. Third-generation driver Trevor Ward guided a car owned by former track champion Jay Hedgecock to the victory in the 60-lap race. Ward led for about the last 40 laps after getting around pole sitter Coy Beard, the 2020 champion who finished as the runner-up. Tony Black was third, and reigning track champion Blaise Brinkley took fourth ahead of Daniel Schadt in the nine-car field. On…

23 Mar

Prep Notes: County teams starting strong; Trinity jumper posts record

Bob SuttonSportsbaseball, Paul Gay, prep sports, track and field

Randleman’s Ryan White watches the ball as he strokes a hit in last week’s 9-1 baseball victory at Asheboro. With the spring regular seasons about one-third of the way complete in many cases, several Randolph County teams began this week with unblemished records. The group includes the Randleman baseball team, the Providence Grove softball team and the Wheatmore girls’ soccer team. Randleman moved to 8-0 with some dominating baseball results. The Tigers have outscored opponents by a combined 87-7 score. Providence Grove has had similar success in softball. The Patriots rolled to 8-0 with a cumulative margin of 80-3. Providence…

23 Mar

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Emma Mazzarone

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Emma Mazzarone, prep sports

Emma Mazzarone | Providence Grove, softball Mazzarone dominated in three games, notching the pitching victory in each of those games for Providence Grove. She was extremely productive at the plate as well. It began in a 10-0 whipping of host Jordan-Matthews, when the left-handed pitcher struck out 14 batters for her second no-hitter in a row. She ripped two triples in that game. In a 5-1 non-league victory against Chatham Central, Mazzarone fanned 17 from the circle. At the plate, she homered. She capped the week with nine strikeouts in three perfect innings of a 15-0 pounding of visiting Trinity…

16 Mar

Caraway creates program to lure driver commitments

Bob SuttonSportsCaraway, Caraway speedway, racetrack

SOPHIA — Caraway Speedway is putting together a program to reward drivers for their loyalty. It’s called “Caraway Strong” and the intent is to provide a more stable group of entrants for the speedway. “We’re starting to get the response,” general manager Darren Hackett said. “I think we’re going to be OK.” The speedway’s regular racing series begins with Sunday’s opening races in seven divisions. This is the 57th season for the track. To be part of the “Caraway Strong” program, drivers agree to compete in every points-paying event for their division across the course of the season. The incentive…

16 Mar

Piedmont Athletic Conference all-conference

Randolph RecordSportsall-conference, awards, PAC, piedmont athletic conference, winners, winter sports

Here’s a list of the Piedmont Athletic Conference’s major award winners and all-conference selections for winter sports: Boys’ basketball Player of the Year: Zane Caudle (Providence Grove) Coach of the Year: Wes Luther (Providence Grove) ALL-CONFERENCE Providence Grove: Zane Caudle, Michael Fee, Chase Whitaker. Trinity: Brandon Campbell, Trace Moffitt, Dominic Payne. Uwharrie Charter Academy: Dawson Dunn, Pierce Leonard, Ashton Troutman. Randleman: Lucas Gnieting, Dylan Wheatley. Southwestern Randolph: Sean Adkins, Nathan Ellis, Landon Williamson. Wheatmore: Adam Harrison. Girls’ basketball Player of the Year: Gracyn Hall (Randleman) Coach of the Year: Brandon Varner (Randleman) ALL-CONFERENCE Randleman: Gracyn Hall, Audra Petty, Elizabeth York.…