Asheboro Zookeepers - Randolph Record

30 May

Asheboro ZooKeepers crank up with busy baseball slate

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

James Hankerson Jr. has been active early in the season for the Asheboro ZooKeepers. (Courtesy photo) College summer team looks for right blend ASHEBORO – More winning is one of the objectives for the Asheboro ZooKeepers this year. There have been a few seasons of occupying low spots in the Coastal Plain League standings, but second-year head coach Korey Dunbar said there has been a good tone for the first week of the season. “We definitely want to win,” said shortstop Zach Evans, a rising senior at Lenoir-Rhyne. “There are a lot of people counting on us to win.” Dunbar…

04 May

Dunbar relishes dual roles with Asheboro ZooKeepers baseball team

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, Korey Dunbar, McCrary Park, Melissa Godwin, North Carolina Tar Heels, summer college baseball

Here’s Asheboro ZooKeepers general manager/coach Korey Dunbar outside the new ticket booth at McCrary Park. (Bob Sutton/Randolph Record) Coach adds front-office duties for college summer team ASHEBORO – Korey Dunbar saw the advantages of adding the title of general manager with the Asheboro ZooKeepers. He’ll combine that role with his duties as the team’s second-year coach for the Coastal Plain League team, which begins play later this month. Melissa Godwin stepped away from the general manager’s role after one year in the position. Last fall, Dunbar became interested in an expanded role. “We talked through some things,” he said. “It…

08 Apr

Prep baseball: UCA blasts three foes in Asheboro event; Randleman adds to win total during spring break

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Jake Hunter, McCrary Park, Parker Kines, Prep baseball, Randleman Tigers, Seth Way, UCA Eagles, Walker Wilkins, Wheatmore Warriors

Southwestern Randolph’s Grant Kirk slides into the plate to score a run against Westchester Country Day School last week at McCrary Park in Asheboro. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Uwharrie Charter Academy’s baseball team won three times in the Asheboro ZooKeepers Classic last week at McCrary Park. The Eagles socked Southern Alamance 12-1, trounced Jordan-Matthews 15-5 and topped Montgomery Central 9-0. Wheatmore had a winning record in the classic, while Southwestern Randolph and Asheboro both finished with 1-2 records in the multi-day competition. UCA’s Jake Hunter pitched in the first game of the event. Walker Wilkins had four hits, including…

12 Mar

Asheboro ZooKeepers go cashless for 2024 season

Randolph RecordBusiness, SportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, McCrary Park, summer college baseball

ASHEBORO – The Asheboro ZooKeepers baseball team will operate on a cashless basis for the 2024 season at McCrary Park. The team announced last week that the cashless set-up will include the purchase of tickets through a new partnership with SimpleTix! along with purchases made at concession and souvenir stands. For fans needing assistance in the process, off-field staff will be available to assist, team officials said. The ZooKeepers are a collegiate summer league team playing in the Coastal Plain League. The season begins with a May 23 home game against the High Point-Thomasville HiToms.

29 Feb

College Notes: Success comes early in season on diamonds for Randolph County products

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, College baseball, College softball, Emma Mazzarone, Landon Mowery, Luke Thomas, Tanner Marsh, Trevor Marsh, Tyler McPeak

Emma Mazzarone There were some impressive debuts on collegiate diamonds for players with Randolph County ties. And some strong efforts early in the season for veteran plays as well. Let’s take a look: Mazzarone shines early Virginia Tech freshman Emma Mazzarone racked up a 3-1 pitching record that included a softball victory against third-ranked Georgia on Friday. She logged 1 1/3 innings of shutout relief to improve her record to 3-1. Of her first seven pitching outings, three came in starts for the former Providence Grove standout. She recorded 14 strikeouts in her first 20 2/3 innings. Mazzarone’s first collegiate…

24 Nov

Forest City to be site for CPL All-Star Game

Randolph RecordSportsAmateur baseball, Asheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, Forest City, summer college baseball

HOLLY SPRINGS – The 2024 Coastal Plain League All-Star Game will be held in Forest City. The Forest City Owls, a rival of the Asheboro ZooKeepers, will be the host team for two days of activities July 7-8 at McNair Field. “Forest City’s vibrant baseball culture and outstanding facilities make it a superb choice for our league’s premier event,” CPL commissioner Chip Allen said in a statement. “We are confident the Forest City Owls and the local community will work together to create an unforgettable experience that will leave a lasting impression on both players and fans.” About 56 players…

11 Aug

ZooKeepers finish CPL baseball season with positives

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, McCrary Park, summer college baseball

By the end of many games, the scoreboard numbers didn’t add up well for the Asheboro ZooKeepers. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The good times for the Asheboro ZooKeepers mostly came late in the season for the collegiate summer baseball team. The ZooKeepers finished with a 20-24 record in the Coastal Plain League, winning just two of their last six games. Their 12-11 mark in the second half was the second-best record in the West Division. That was improvement from 2022, when Asheboro’s 14-33 overall record was the worst in the CPL. The leading batter for the ZooKeepers was second…

31 Jul

ZooKeepers find different values in season

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

Dallas Callahan has been with Asheboro’s Coastal Plain League team even before this year. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Tyler McPeak and Dallas Callahan have given the Asheboro ZooKeepers a veteran presence in different ways during the Coastal Plain League baseball season. McPeak is looking to polish his swing and plate approach in advance of a final season at Lenoir-Rhyne, where he has been a record-setting slugger. “I’ve always been a guy that feels there’s something else to be desired,” McPeak said. “Chasing perfection in an imperfect game.” Callahan opted for a final go-around in a collegiate summer league even…

29 Jul

UCA alum, ZooKeepers pitcher Hill finds new college home

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, Hunter Hill, summer college baseball, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

ASHEBORO – Hunter Hill arrived to play summer baseball with the Asheboro ZooKeepers while representing North Carolina Wesleyan. When he leaves, he’ll be heading to another college. Hill, a former Uwharrie Charter Academy pitcher, is transferring to Division II Belmont Abbey. “I’m excited about it,” he said. “I was happy to move up the ladder.” Hill pitched for two seasons for Division III N.C. Wesleyan without a loss on his record. The time in his first season with the ZooKeepers in the Coastal Plain League has given him confidence that he can be successful at a higher level. “It’s a…

22 Jul

ZooKeepers deal with curves late in season

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, McCrary Park

Asheboro ZooKeepers outfielder Carter French reaches for second base on a slide earlier this season. French plays for North Carolina during the college season. (PJ. Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Highs and lows, comings and goings. That sums up what the Asheboro ZooKeepers have been going through lately. In the past week’s games, they’ve gone 2-2. Saturday night’s 12-1 whipping of the Holly Springs Salamanders at McCrary Park came with numerous highlights, including the first home run for Lleyton Lackey. The game was reduced to seven innings by the mercy rule, with Win Scott firing a four-hitter. Yet it’s generally hard…