Asheboro Zookeepers - Randolph Record

06 Feb

Southwestern Randolph grad Coleman picked to All-ACC preseason softball team

Randolph RecordSportsAlex Coleman, Asheboro Zookeepers, College softball, North Carolina Tar Heels, Southwestern Randolph Cougars

North Carolina outfielder Alex Coleman, a Southwestern Randolph graduate, was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference preseason softball team. Coleman, a senior, will be in her second season with the Tar Heels after transferring from Marshall. Last year, she led the ACC with a .436 batting average. She also had a team-leading 44 runs scored, 20 stolen bases and 18 multi-hit games. Coleman’s batting average was the best for a North Carolina player since 1996. The Tar Heels were selected for a ninth-place finish in the coaches’ poll. Duke was picked first. North Carolina opens the season Friday in the…

31 Dec

2024 sports in review: Title times come for area teams

Bob SuttonSports2024, Asheboro Zookeepers, Cam Letterlough, College baseball, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Ellie Garrison, Prep baseball, prep football, prep soccer, prep wrestling, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Tim Kelly, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

There was lots to celebrate for the Southwestern Randolph softball team at the 2024 state finals. (Randolph Record file photo) There were no shortage of special moments and achievements for area athletes in 2024 Championship appearances on the state level for several schools were among Randolph County sports highlights in 2024. The year was sprinkled with significant success stories. Four different schools captured team championships, while teams from two schools were left with the heartbreak of state runner-up finishes to accompany a sense of accomplishment. Here’s a review of some notable 2024 area sports achievements: Title moments In some cases,…

13 Aug

Former Randleman standout Trey Way ready to give Radford a try

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Burlington Athletic Stadium, Burlington Sock Puppets, Radford, Randleman athletics, Randleman baseball, Randolph County Post 45, Trey Way, Virginia Tech

Former Randleman baseball player Trey Way goes through pregame testing prior to an outing with the Burlington Sock Puppets this summer. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) BURLINGTON – Trey Way hasn’t played much baseball the past couple of years. He wants that to change. Way, who was a key part of two Randleman state championships, has a new role and a new team. “It has been an up and down journey, for sure,” Way said. “You have to see the good in everything.” The quest for more baseball satisfaction hasn’t waned. He’ll attempt to gain that at Radford. An infielder…

31 Jul

Asheboro ZooKeepers end season with flourish

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, Hunter Atkins, Korey Dunbar, McCrary Park, summer college baseball

Nick Capozzi of the Asheboro ZooKeepers takes a swing. (Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – At the beginning of the final week of the Coastal Plain League baseball season, the Asheboro ZooKeepers rallied from a four-run deficit and used a bunch of late-game dramatics to pull out a victory. Perhaps it was a fitting scenario for the team, which showed resiliency on that night at McCrary Park and for the rest of the week. “Big wins, it feels nice,” said outfielder Owen Blackledge. “Baseball is a whole lot more fun when you’re winning.” Blackledge smashed a seventh-inning grand slam in that uprising…

23 Jul

Former standout McPeak holds Asheboro ZooKeepers coaching role

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, Lenoir-Rhyne, summer college baseball, Tyler McPeak

Tyler McPeak (Photo courtesy of Asheboro ZooKeepers) Ex-teammates view Tyler McPeak in a different capacity ASHEBORO – Tyler McPeak found so much to appreciate about the Asheboro ZooKeepers that he came back for another season. But he’s a coach now instead of one of the best players. McPeak is making the transition during the Coastal Plain League season after finishing his final collegiate season in the spring for Lenoir-Rhyne. “I was fortunate to play for Coach (Korey) Dunbar last summer,” McPeak said. “I figured I’d give coaching a shot.” McPeak was second-team All-South Atlantic Conference first baseman for Lenoir-Ryne this…

17 Jul

Clemson pitcher embraces Asheboro mound time with ZooKeepers

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Clemson Tigers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, Noah Samol, summer college baseball

Noah Samol (Courtesy photo) ASHEBORO – Noah Samol still holds big aspirations as a college pitcher, and he came to Asheboro this summer to help get those on track. Samol is a Clemson pitcher who has taken the mound for the Asheboro ZooKeepers in the Coastal Plain League. “Glad to be out here,” Samol said. “You just got to go somewhere and just pitch.” It has been far from a simple path to this point. The start-and-stop nature of Samol’s baseball experiences began several years ago. He had Tommy John surgery as a high school sophomore in Mason, Ohio. He…

16 Jul

Padres select ZooKeepers’ Evans in draft

Bob SuttonSportsArizona Diamondbacks, Asheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, Lenoir-Rhyne, pro baseball, Ryan Waldschmidt, San Diego Padres, summer college baseball, Zach Evans

Zach Evans (Asheboro ZooKeepers photo) Former Asheboro player picked by Diamondbacks ASHEBORO – Asheboro ZooKeepers shortstop Zach Evans was selected in the ninth round of baseball’s amateur draft Monday. Evans, a college player for Lenoir-Rhyne, was picked by the San Diego Padres with the 270th pick overall. Evans has been playing with the ZooKeepers in the Coastal Plain League, which is a summer circuit for college players. He batted .338 with five home runs in 31 games. Evans is the 10th player in Lenoir-Rhyne’s baseball history to be picked in the draft. He’s the school’s first draftee in six years…

10 Jul

Close games prove costly for ZooKeepers

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, Lenoir-Rhyne, McCrary Park, Owen Blackledge, summer college baseball, Zach Evans

Zach Evans takes a swing during a recent game for the Asheboro ZooKeepers. (P.J. Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The Asheboro ZooKeepers were involved in a bunch of close games heading into the Coastal Plain League’s all-star break. Not all of those outcomes worked out well for the ZooKeepers. So when play resumed this week, the ZooKeepers were in sixth place in the eight-team West Division with a 5-6 second-half record in the split season. The ZooKeepers ended last week with a pair of games with the High Point-Thomasville HiToms. Asheboro outfielder Owen Blackledge was dubbed the top hitter…

03 Jul

Atkins, four other ZooKeepers picked for CPL All-Star Game

Bob SuttonSportsAll-star game, Asheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, Hunter Atkins, Randleman baseball, summer college baseball

Nic Schutte fires a pitch for the Asheboro ZooKeepers during last week’s victory against High Point-Thomasville. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Third baseman Hunter Atkins of the Asheboro ZooKeepers is one of the team’s five selections for the upcoming Coastal Plain League All-Star Game. Atkins, a third baseman from Randleman, will join second baseman Sal Laimo and pitchers Mason Maniquez, Noah Samol and Dylan Dickert on the West team. The CPL All-Star activities will be held Sunday and Monday in Forest City. Atkins began this week with a team-best .306 batting average in 23 games. He had knocked…

26 Jun

Blackledge builds own career with Asheboro ZooKeepers

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, Lenoir-Rhyne, Owen Blackledge, summer college baseball

Owen Blackledge has brought energy to the Asheboro ZooKeepers for a second summer. (Courtesy of Asheboro ZooKeepers) Son of former NFL quarterback makes good use of time in Asheboro ASHEBORO – At about this time last year, Owen Blackledge had just left Omaha, Neb., where he was a member of a College World Series team. While some goals and destinations have changed, Blackledge is now in the middle of his second season with the Asheboro ZooKeepers. The rising senior outfielder knows how to make adjustments. He once played collegiately for national power Texas Christian University and now has one year…