Post 45 seeks good blend with returners, newcomers

There’s a different mix in the Randolph County Post 45 dugout this year for American Legion baseball. (P.J. Ward-Brown / Randolph Record)

ASHEBORO – There might be good pieces to the puzzle for Randolph County Post 45’s baseball team.

It’s largely a new roster from a year ago, so manager Ronnie Pugh will see how it all comes together after seeing encouraging results during the first stretch of the season.

There are players representing numerous high schools in the area and that’s the blend Post 45 will be counting on this summer.

“We played against or with each other for four years now,” outfielder Caleb Coggins said of his summer teammates.

The high school days are in the past for many of the players. Coggins played for Wheatmore, and he’ll be going to Guilford College later this fall.

Outfielder Jackson Hill of Randleman is a rising junior, and he said he joined the Post 45 team with the intent of building on his high school season.

After a few weeks, he said there have been good trends developing.

“Just being around the guys every day,” Hill said of the best part.

Post 45 began this week with a 5-3 record.

Coggins and Sean Jennison are on board from Wheatmore along with returning pitcher Parker Kines, while Trinity players Ethan Willard, Brody Little and Lincoln Coble have provided boosts.

“We’ve seen them play a lot through the years,” Pugh said. “It will be good to have them down here (on our club).”

Other players from Asheboro, Randleman, Southwestern Randolph and Uwharrie Charter Academy often form a core for Post 45.

Coggins said everyone wants to contribute.

“There’s a chance coming in (to make impacts),” he said. “Right now, it’s working out.”

Little, a catcher, has been dealing with a shoulder injury that prevented him from being behind the plate early in the American Legion season.

Randolph County will begin playing Area 3 divisional games this week.

“We’ve got to do some things in certain situations and hit better,” Pugh said.

Prior to a week-long layoff, Post 45 dropped a 5-4 decision at Rowan County Post 342 on June 9. Willard had three hits and scored twice and Little had an RBI and scored a run. Tate Andrews took the pitching loss.

Post 81 notches first win

Chance Holdaway and Chase Collins combined on a five-hitter as Liberty Post 81 got in the win column with a 5-0 victory against visiting Moore County Post 12.

The next night, Liberty led visiting Hamlet Post 49 by 4-2 before the game was suspended in the fifth inning. It will be completed when the teams meet again for a scheduled game.

The week ended with Liberty forfeiting a road game to Union County Post 535 because of a lack of available players.