Coastal Plain League - Randolph Record

26 Jun

ZooKeepers mark home debut with win

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, summer college baseball

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…

20 Jun

ZooKeepers finally find some answers

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, McCrary Park, UNCG

The Asheboro ZooKeepers have had mixed results from the mound during their games so far this season. (Photo courtesy of ZooKeepers) ASHEBORO – The Asheboro ZooKeepers made notable progress last week. The biggest of those achievements was finally winning a game. The Coastal Plain League baseball team lost its first six games of the season, which already has been disjointed by playing home games at UNC Greensboro while McCrary Park renovations are ongoing. The plan is to have the ZooKeepers playing in Asheboro by the end of this week. At least they’ve experienced success. The ZooKeepers didn’t pick up a…

11 Jun

ZooKeepers take winding path to slow start

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

Members of the Asheboro ZooKeepers hang out at the dugout at UNCG. (Photo courtesy of ZooKeepers) GREENSBORO – College baseball players arrived to play a summer season in Asheboro. So far, they’ve played only elsewhere. That’s just part of the rough opening stretch of the season for the Asheboro ZooKeepers. “It’s a little strange,” said third baseman Tanner Thomas, who plays collegiately for Longwood. “We’re very thankful that we have a place like this to play.” He was referring to UNC Greensboro Baseball Stadium. With a renovation project behind schedule at McCrary Park, the ZooKeepers have mostly played road games…

06 Jun

ZooKeepers, Post 45 wait on McCrary Park

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Asheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, McCrary Park, Randleman High School, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh, Tanner Marsh

Randolph County Post 45 shortstop Tanner Marsh makes a tag at second base against Davidson County during an American Legion game last week in Randleman, where the team is playing home games temporarily. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The Asheboro ZooKeepers and Randolph County Post 45 baseball teams are playing relocated home games for perhaps a few more weeks as the latest renovation project at McCrary Park is keeping the park off limits to spectators. The ZooKeepers, a collegiate summer team, have reworked the early portion of their schedule and already have played road games. The team will play select…

03 Nov

New GM for ZooKeepers holds unique background

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

Melissa Godwin has joined the front office of the Asheboro ZooKeepers. (Courtesy photo) ASHEBORO – Melissa Godwin has clear baseball connections and those could be a boost for the Asheboro ZooKeepers. Godwin is the team’s new general manager and director of baseball operations. She’s wife to UNC Greensboro baseball coach Billy Godwin. “My résumé is pretty good without Billy,” she said. “(Taking this job) was the culmination of everything I’ve done.” She’ll largely handle the ZooKeepers operations. Dennis Garcia, who had been in that role, will concentrate primarily on the American Legion programs that are McCrary Park tenants and the…

21 Oct

McCrary Park takes on another new look

Bob SuttonNews, SportsAmerican Legion baseball, Asheboro Zookeepers, City of Asheboro, Coastal Plain League, McCrary Park, Randolph County Post 45

The grandstand has been flattened at McCrary Park as another phase of the renovation is in the works at the baseball park in Asheboro. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO — The grandstand is gone, and renovations are picking up again at McCrary Park. This latest development marks the latest phase in the upgrades for the baseball park. “It’s a lot of work to do,” said Ronnie Pugh, an owner of the Coastal Plain League’s Asheboro ZooKeepers. “It’s moving along, and it’s pretty exciting. It can’t happen soon enough.” For any past visitors, the sight of the grandstand no longer in place might…

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…