Coastal Plain League

Asheboro ZooKeepers go cashless for 2024 season

Asheboro ZooKeepers go cashless for 2024 season

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.
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Forest City to be site for CPL All-Star Game

Forest City to be site for CPL All-Star Game

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…
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ZooKeepers finish CPL baseball season with positives

ZooKeepers finish CPL baseball season with positives

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…
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ZooKeepers find different values in season

ZooKeepers find different values in season

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…
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UCA alum, ZooKeepers pitcher Hill finds new college home

UCA alum, ZooKeepers pitcher Hill finds new college home

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…
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ZooKeepers deal with curves late in season

ZooKeepers deal with curves late in season

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…
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ZooKeepers send three to CPL showcase

ZooKeepers send three to CPL showcase

Win Scott delivers a pitch for the Asheboro ZooKeepers. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The Asheboro ZooKeepers had three players selected for this week’s Coastal Plain League All-Star Game. First baseman Tyler McPeak and pitchers Jacob Dienes and Win Scott were set to participate in two days of activities at Lexington, S.C. The Lexington County Blowfish were the host team for the All-Star events. McPeak, a graduate student at Lenoir-Rhyne, has been one of the league’s top power hitters. Dienes and Scott are both rising juniors at North Carolina State. The Asheboro trio will be on the West Division team.…
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ZooKeepers find peaks in rough stretch

ZooKeepers find peaks in rough stretch

Ethan Snyder is the only pitcher with both a victory and a save for the Asheboro ZooKeepers. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The Asheboro ZooKeepers didn’t win a game in the Coastal Plain League’s second half until their fourth game. At least they did so in style. The ZooKeepers defeated first-half West Division champion Forest City 7-6 in Saturday night’s game at McCrary Park. Alex Lodise hit his first home run with the ZooKeepers. Teammates Jay Dillard and Owen Blackledge both had two hits. Jacob Halford was the winning pitcher in relief. Spencer Floyd notched a save by recording six…
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ZooKeepers show signs of breaking through

ZooKeepers show signs of breaking through

Jay Dillard had a three-run double and then scored a run for the Asheboro ZooKeepers against Holly Springs on Thursday night. (Photo courtesy of ZooKeepers) ASHEBORO – The Asheboro ZooKeepers didn’t make a push for the first-half title in the Coastal Plain League’s West Division. But they did develop momentum and created some good vibes by the midway mark of the season. Among the highlights was Thursday night’s 5-4, 10-inning victory against visiting Holly Springs Salamanders at McCrary Park. “We strung a couple of nights like that together,” first-year ZooKeepers coach Korey Dunbar said. “We’re starting to finish games.” The…
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ZooKeepers mark home debut with win

ZooKeepers mark home debut with win

Asheboro’s Jay Dillard reaches second base as the ball skips away from Boone’s Carlos Amezquita during last week’s game at McCrary Park. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)   ASHEBORO – The Asheboro ZooKeepers, a college summer league baseball team, finally got to play a game in their home ballpark. Even that situation lasted only so long. It was a winning endeavor for the ZooKeepers, who topped the visiting Boone Bigfoots 9-6 on Thursday night at McCrary Park. The second game of the Coastal Plain League doubleheader was wiped out during the first inning because of lightning and then rain. Jared Beebe and…
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