Asheboro Zookeepers - Randolph Record

06 Sep

Former Division I college players take roles with ZooKeepers staff

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, Korey Dunbar, summer college baseball

Korey Dunbar will be the head coach of the Asheboro ZooKeepers ASHEBORO – A new coaching staff has been selected for the Asheboro ZooKeepers and there’s regional college flavor involved in those selections. Former North Carolina catcher Korey Dunbar will be the head coach. Ex-North Carolina State pitcher Josh Pike will be the 2023 pitching coach. The ZooKeepers are a Coastal Plain League team. Dunbar, who has been on Barton College’s coaching staff for three seasons, played for North Carolina from 2012-15. That included a trip to the College World Series in 2013. “I am extremely grateful and excited for…

09 Aug

ZooKeepers coach departs after two seasons

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, Jeremy Knight, McCrary Park, Southern Alamance

Jeremy Knight decided to give up his job with the Asheboro ZooKeepers. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Jeremy Knight has stepped away from his roles with the Asheboro ZooKeepers. After guiding the Coastal Plain League baseball team for two seasons, he decided to resign as head coach and co-general manager. “It was becoming too much with two kids,” he said, calling it a family decision. “This year wore me out.” Knight’s record with the college summer team was 37-56, including a league-worst 14-33 mark this season. He’s returning to a teaching position at Southern Alamance High School. “It wasn’t because…

01 Aug

Asheboro ZooKeepers cap strange, twisting season

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Bryce Marsh, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, summer college baseball, Trent Youngblood

Southwestern Randolph alum Bryce Marsh had a strong season in power numbers for the Asheboro ZooKeepers. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Marsh’s CPL-best homer count among team’s highlights ASHEBORO – Things became better for the Asheboro ZooKeepers during the latter part of the Coastal Plain League season. But not good enough to qualify for the postseason. A somewhat awkward season came to a close with Saturday night’s 12-8 loss to the visiting Martinsville Mustangs at McCrary Park. Asheboro’s 14-34 record in CPL games was a league-worst mark in the 14-team circuit. The ZooKeepers were also 2-2 on non-league games. “It has…

27 Jul

Transylvania player puts together special season with ZooKeepers

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, summer college baseball, Transylvania baseball, Trent Youngblood

Trent Youngblood makes a play in the field for the Asheboro ZooKeepers. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Youngblood comes from Division III, but excels in CPL ASHEBORO – Coming from a Division III program, it was natural to wonder how Trent Youngblood would fit in with the Asheboro ZooKeepers. That hasn’t really happened – and that has been a good thing. It turns out that the versatile infielder has stood out with the ZooKeepers and across the Coastal Plain League as a whole. “I really just like competing,” Youngblood said. “It was a big adjustment coming from my school to here.” He’s…

19 Jul

Trevor Marsh could join ZooKeepers for final stretch

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, summer college baseball, Trevor Marsh, UNCW

Trevor Marsh turned in a solid season last summer for Asheboro’s team in the CPL. He could be returning. (Randolph Record file photo) ASHEBORO – Trevor Marsh might be back with Asheboro’s Coastal Plain League baseball team after all. The former Asheboro High School standout hasn’t played this summer following surgery on his left hand’s index finger that caused his season to be cut short at UNC Wilmington. Marsh, an outfielder, said last week that he might join the Asheboro ZooKeepers for the final few games of the season if he’s given medical clearance. Last year, he played for the…

12 Jul

Youngblood receives CPL honor

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, summer college baseball, Trent Youngblood

HOLLY SPRINGS – Trent Youngblood of the Asheboro ZooKeepers was named the Hitter of the Week in the Coastal Plain League after batting .556 and driving in eight runs in five games. Youngblood had two doubles and scored five runs. He also drew three walks and stolen three bases. Youngblood, a utility player, is a rising junior at Transylvania. He’s from Louisville, Ky. Youngblood was the only Asheboro position player to appear in Sunday night’s CPL All-Star Game at Ting Stadium in Holly Springs. He was a pinch hitter and then played shortstop, going 0-for-2 for the West, which won…

06 Jul

Asheboro duo picked for CPL All-Star Game

Randolph RecordSportsAll-star game, Asheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, Kennedy Jones, summer college baseball, Trent Youngblood

Trent Youngblood has given the Asheboro ZooKeepers a boost in several ways so far this season. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO — Infielder Trent Youngblood and outfielder Kennedy Jones will represent the Asheboro ZooKeepers in Sunday’s Coastal Plain League All-Star Game in Holly Springs. Youngblood, who plays in college for Transylvania, leads the ZooKeepers with 23 runs batted in and co-leads the team with ten extra-base hits across his first 29 games. He entered this week as the only player to appear in every CPL game for Asheboro. Kennedy is a standout for UNC Greensboro. Because the Spartans were in the…

29 Jun

There’s still hope for Asheboro ZooKeepers despite tough times

Bob SuttonSportsAndrew Grande, Asheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, summer college baseball

Andrew Grande hopes his time with the Asheboro ZooKeepers leads to other opportunities. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Injury stalls plans for ‘free agent’ in search of new team ASHEBORO — No baseball team in the Coastal Plain League is probably ready for the season’s second half more than the Asheboro ZooKeepers. It’s bound to get better. The college summer league has had unfortunate stop-and-go nature for the ZooKeepers, both from a team perspective and an individual level. The ZooKeepers were forced on the road and into several situations necessitating make-up games because of delayed renovations at McCrary Park. Then there’s…

15 Jun

ZooKeepers need results to go with home comforts

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, summer college baseball

Chase Waddell takes a swing for the Asheboro ZooKeepers during their game Sunday night against the Savannah Bananas at McCrary Park. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO — The Asheboro ZooKeepers are starting to feel right at home in their partially renovated ballpark. To be sure, they’re glad to settle in at McCrary Park. “Oh my Gosh, it looks awesome,” said pitcher Danny Heintz said. “The whole thing.” Heintz has a particular perspective because the pitcher from the University of Pennsylvania also played in 2021 for Asheboro’s team in the Coastal Plain League. Because of delays in construction on the first…

26 May

ZooKeepers could be solid on mound

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

ASHEBORO – There will be a few returning players on Asheboro’s Coastal Plain League team, but by and large the 2022 roster will look different in many ways. An upgrade in experience is something that could benefit the ZooKeepers the most. “We try our best to get the best players you come across,” said head coach Jeremy Knight, who’s also the co-general manager and in his second year with the team. Asheboro posted a 23-21 record last year, when it was nicknamed Copperheads before an offseason rebranding. The ZooKeepers are slated for road games at Forest City and Holly Springs…