Coastal Plain League - Randolph Record

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…

12 Jan

Baseball team changes name to ZooKeepers

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro, asheboro copperheads, Asheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League

ASHEBORO — Asheboro’s summer collegiate baseball team has a new name. It’s the Asheboro ZooKeepers. Formerly known as the Asheboro Copperheads, the Coastal Plain League team announced Monday that it has a new name. The team, which was founded in 1999, blasted Guns ‘N Roses’s “Welcome to the Jungle” as it unveiled logos and uniforms at Asheboro Recreation Center. The team’s colors will change to a safari-theme with tan and brown dominating the logo and uniforms. Gone will be the burnt orange and black of the Copperheads. According to a release from the team, the ZooKeepers will have four official…

12 Aug

Marsh finds value in hometown summer

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro, Coastal Plain League, Copperheads, Education, schools, UNCW, Wilmington

Asheboro grad gives thumbs-up to season with Copperheads ASHEBORO — A summer of baseball in his hometown was just the right thing for Trevor Marsh. Marsh, an Asheboro High School graduate, took advantage of his role with the Asheboro Copperheads. He said it was well worth his time. “It was more than I expected. I didn’t think the experience was going to be as good as it was,” Marsh said. He was a make-up of sorts from last summer, when he was slated to play for the Copperheads before the 2020 season was scrapped because of the pandemic. The Coastal…

19 Jul

Copperheads see plenty of UNCG influence

Bob SuttonSportsasheboro copperheads, Coastal Plain League, coppherheads, UNC Greensboro, UNCG

ASHEBORO — When something notable happens for the Asheboro Copperheads, there’s a good chance it could have something to do with one of their players from UNC Greensboro. The time this summer with the Coastal Plain League team has been an ideal proving grounds for the college players. “It’s top-level competition, really good,” said infielder Matt Kemp, who’s from Randleman. “It’s better than I thought it would be.” While Kemp is getting back in the swing of things after his freshman season, pitcher Jared Mathewson is trying to tune up for a final go-around at the college level. “It has…