Adam Cole - Randolph Record

24 Sep

Prep Football: Cougars clobber Asheboro; Wildcats roll in non-league finale

Randolph RecordSportsAdam Cole, Asheboro Blue Comets, Easton Clapp, Ervodd Cassady, prep football, Southwestern Randolph football, Stratton Barwick

Asheboro’s Markell Graham is pursued by Southwestern Randolph’s Danny Jackson and Caleb Shelton, far right, during Friday night’s game. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Southwestern Randolph scored on the first snap of the game and went on to drub visiting Asheboro 40-2 on Friday night. Adam Cole took a short pass from Easton Clapp and burst 64 yards for a touchdown for the first points. “It was open,” Southwestern Randolph coach Seth Baxter said. “I think our wide receivers did a tremendous job of blocking on that play.” Southwestern Randolph (4-1) heads into Piedmont Athletic Conference play on a two-game…

17 Sep

Blue Comets enter win column, but Providence Grove suffers first loss

Randolph RecordSportsAdam Cole, Asheboro Blue Comets, Dominic Payne, Easton Clapp, prep football, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Southwestern Randolph football, Zane Cheek

TRINITY – Every team in Randolph County has at least one victory after Friday night’s results. There also is no longer an undefeated team among the seven football-playing schools in the county. Asheboro entered the win column by securing an 18-13 road victory at Wheatmore. The Blue Comets (1-3) won for the first time since August 2021, snapping a 12-game losing streak. Josh Meadows scored on a 2-yard run with about four minutes to play for the winning points. Michael Brady scored a first-half touchdown for Asheboro. Kai Matthews ran 18 yards for the Blue Comets’ second touchdown. Wheatmore is…

27 Aug

Prep football: Wildcats trounce Asheboro; Providence Grove, SWR cruise

Randolph RecordSportsAdam Cole, Andrew Canter, Asheboro Blue Comets, Chase Whitaker, Dominic Payne, Eastern Randolph athletics, Easton Clapp, Ervodd Cassady, prep football, Randleman football, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Southwestern Randolph football

Southwestern Randolph’s Grant Little heads for a big gain against South Stanly on Friday night. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) RAMSEUR – Ervodd Cassady scored on four touchdown runs as Eastern Randolph bashed visiting Asheboro 69-7 in Friday night’s non-conference football game The Wildcats improved to 1-1 to maintain dominance in the series under veteran coach Burton Cates. Eastern Randolph scored 28 points in each of the first and second quarters to build a 56-0 lead by halftime. Stratton Barwick threw for two touchdowns and ran for another. Nicah Taylor returned an interception for a touchdown, marking one of the three pick-offs…

26 Aug

Post 45 could have core of roster back next year

Bob SuttonSportsAdam Cole, American Legion baseball, Braylen Hayes, McCrary Park, Post 45, Randleman baseball, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh, Southeast Regional, Tanner Marsh, Trey Way, Tyler Parks

Alex Martinez, shown here batting for Randolph County Post 45 during the Southeast Regional earlier this month in Asheboro, could be among the team's returning players for 2023. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – When the season ended for Randolph County Post 45 earlier this month, it was a downer. The team lost back-to-back games to be eliminated from the Southeast Regional in American Legion baseball in its home ballpark. Yet there might have been a ray of hope regarding the future that day at McCrary Park. “Only three of our 17 players are gone,” Randolph County manager Ronnie Pugh…

20 Aug

Prep Football: Randleman blanks Asheboro in opener; PG rolls; SWR, Trinity score big

Randolph RecordSportsAdam Cole, Asheboro Blue Comets, Blake Brewer, Chase Whitaker, Dominic Payne, Easton Clapp, prep football, Randleman football, Randleman Tigers, Shane Timmons, Stratton Barwick

Randleman’s Anthony Santos tries to pull away from Asheboro’s Julian Faz on Friday night. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Randleman clicked better in the second half of a 24-0 season-opening victory Friday night at Asheboro. The Blue Comets never got into a groove. Those factors allowed the Tigers to avenge last year’s season-opening loss. “They had to live with last year’s score all year,” Randleman coach Shane Timmons said of his players. Even as they wasted a few chances until late in the first half, there were reasons for the Tigers to be pleased. “They kind of got the butterflies…

17 Aug

Southwestern Randolph Cougars find more roles for Clapp

Bob SuttonSportsAdam Cole, Easton Clapp, piedmont athletic conference, prep football, Seth Baxter, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Southwestern Randolph football

Even in a new position, Easton Clapp should have ample chances to carry the ball for Southwestern Randolph. (File photo) After record season, Southwestern Randolph seeks to keep it going ASHEBORO – Trying to follow the best season in school history, Southwestern Randolph has moved one of its best players to another position. Makes good sense to the Cougars. They enter this season with Easton Clapp, the hard-running ball carrier, taking snaps at quarterback. Don’t worry, his mentality hasn’t changed. “I knew I was going to have to play quarterback this year,” said Clapp, who had been a running back.…

06 Aug

Season fizzles on Post 45 in elimination loss

Bob SuttonSportsAdam Cole, American Legion baseball, Braylen Hayes, McCrary Park, Post 45, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh, Southeast Regional, Trey Way, Wilmington Post 10

Randolph County Post 45 team members go through their final postgame handshake line of the season Saturday at McCrary Park. ASHEBORO – This Randolph County Post 45 baseball team seemed built for big things. Too many big innings for opponents became the undoing for the host team in the American Legion’s Southeast Regional. “I definitely think we could have had a better season than this,” left fielder Adam Cole said. The end came with a 15-5 loss to Wilmington Post 10 in an elimination game Saturday at McCrary Park. The game was reduced to five innings by the mercy rule,…

06 Aug

Problems pile up on Post 45 in first regional loss

Bob SuttonSportsAdam Cole, American Legion baseball, Braylen Hayes, McCrary Park, Post 45, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh, Southeast Regional, Trey Way

Randolph County Post 45 coaches Ryan Hill, left, Ronnie Pugh and Andrew Conner will need a plan to win three more games in the Southeast Regional. (File photo) Randolph County needs turnaround to extend season ASHEBORO -- It didn’t start well for Randolph County Post 45. Then it got worse Friday night. Yet if there’s a good omen for the host team in Southeast Regional for American Legion baseball, things are bound to get better this weekend. Or else the season will come to a disheartening conclusion. “It’s an eye-opener,” Post 45 catcher Alex Martinez said after the 12-7 loss…

04 Aug

Little comes up big as Post 45 pulls out victory in Southeast Regional opener

Bob SuttonSportsAdam Cole, American Legion baseball, Blake Marsh, Grant Little, Josh Meadows, McCrary Park, Post 45, Randolph County Post 45, Rock Hill Post 34, Southeast Regional, Tanner Marsh, Trey Way

Grant Little's return to action turned out to be timely for Randolph County Post 45. (File photo) ASHEBORO – The game barely started and Randolph County Post 45 needed big help in the Southeast Regional. That came from Grant Little, who hadn’t pitched in more than a month. Little calmed things down for Post 45 before the offense caused commotion in what became a 14-8 victory against Rock Hill (S.C.) Post 34 in the nightcap of the first day of the American Legion regional Wednesday night at McCrary Park. “We realize what we’re playing for,” Post 45 shortstop Tanner Marsh…

02 Aug

Post 45 aims to make it to weekend

Bob SuttonSportsAdam Cole, Amateur baseball, American Legion baseball, Randolph County Post 45, Robert Garner, Ronnie Pugh, Southeast Regional

Randolph County Post 45 pitcher Robert Garner is bound to be called upon for a critical role during the Southeast Regional for American Legion baseball. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Southeast Regional provides array of challenges for Randolph County ASHEBORO – In order for Randolph County Post 45 to be playing this weekend when the remaining teams have dwindled in the Southeast Regional of American Legion baseball, there are bound to be several key factors. Post 45 manager Ronnie Pugh has tried to develop pitching depth, something that became a challenge at times when the team’s schedule was either spread out or…