College baseball - Randolph Record

27 May

ZooKeepers set to embark on another season

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

ASHEBORO — The Asheboro ZooKeepers begin another baseball season this week, with the home opener set for Friday night at McCrary Park. Third-year coach Korey Dunbar will direct the ZooKeepers, who finished their 2024 season with seven consecutive victories. There’s scheduled free admission as part of what the ZooKeepers, a summer collegiate team, are labeling a fanfest for an exhibition game against Randolph County Post 45 on Tuesday night. Asheboro plays its first Coastal Plain League game Thursday night against the host Holly Springs Salamanders. Friday’s home game is against the High Point-Thomasville HiToms. Game times are set for 6:30…

07 May

Ex-Randleman pitcher Way undergoes surgery

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, College baseball, Liberty Flames, Randleman Tigers, Seth Way, Tanner Marsh, Trey Cooper

Seth Way (Liberty photo) Former Randleman baseball pitcher Seth Way, in his first year in college, has undergone Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. Way is in his freshman year at Liberty, though he hasn’t pitched for the Flames because of the ailment. “I’m currently a little over four weeks post-surgery,” he said last weekend. Way said he has been involved with the Liberty team on a regular basis in terms of off-field work. He’s not on road trips with the Flames. Way was the left fielder on Randleman’s 2022 state championship team as a sophomore. When he wasn’t…

21 Apr

College baseball: Atkins holds role with Catawba

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Catawba College, College baseball, Gage Miller, Hunter Atkins, Randleman Tigers

Hunter Atkins had a productive season with the Asheboro ZooKeepers last summer before his first season for Catawba. (Randolph Record) The roles for Hunter Atkins on the baseball field have evolved the past couple of years, but he’s still making contributions. The former Randleman standout is a left fielder for Catawba, which is one of the top Division II baseball teams in the country. Atkins played in 40 of Catawba’s first 44 games. He’s batting .317 with 11 doubles, two triples and 26 runs batted in. The No. 11 Indians began this week with a 32-12 record, including first-place mark…

27 Mar

ZooKeepers seek host families for upcoming baseball season

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, McCrary Park, summer college baseball

ASHEBORO — The Asheboro ZooKeepers, a summer collegiate baseball team, are seeking host families for the upcoming season. The club is looking for places to house players and interns for the season, which generally runs from late May through late July or early August. The team touts the valuable role that host families can provide while allowing the summer visitors to excel. “Support enables players to focus on their games and practice, while interns can dedicate their time to supporting the team’s operations,” the team says. “… You’ll be making a positive impact on their experience and contributing to the…

31 Dec

2024 sports in review: Title times come for area teams

Bob SuttonSports2024, Asheboro Zookeepers, Cam Letterlough, College baseball, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Ellie Garrison, Prep baseball, prep football, prep soccer, prep wrestling, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Tim Kelly, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

There was lots to celebrate for the Southwestern Randolph softball team at the 2024 state finals. (Randolph Record file photo) There were no shortage of special moments and achievements for area athletes in 2024 Championship appearances on the state level for several schools were among Randolph County sports highlights in 2024. The year was sprinkled with significant success stories. Four different schools captured team championships, while teams from two schools were left with the heartbreak of state runner-up finishes to accompany a sense of accomplishment. Here’s a review of some notable 2024 area sports achievements: Title moments In some cases,…

04 Aug

Former Randleman pitcher Cooper opts for another year at Liberty

Bob SuttonSportsAppalachian League, Burlington Sock Puppets, College baseball, Liberty Flames, Randleman athletics, Randleman baseball, summer college baseball, Trey Cooper

Trey Cooper (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) BURLINGTON – Even during a summer of baseball uncertainty for pitcher Trey Cooper, he was focused on development. The former Randleman pitcher wants to be a starting pitcher again. “Trying to get back in the starting routine,” Cooper said. Cooper has one season of college eligibility remaining and he entered the transfer portal after his second season at Liberty. It turns out, he’s staying with the Flames. For the second time in three years, he was pitching with the Burlington Sock Puppets, a collegiate summer team in the Appalachian League. Cooper said he…

31 Jul

Asheboro ZooKeepers end season with flourish

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

Nick Capozzi of the Asheboro ZooKeepers takes a swing. (Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – At the beginning of the final week of the Coastal Plain League baseball season, the Asheboro ZooKeepers rallied from a four-run deficit and used a bunch of late-game dramatics to pull out a victory. Perhaps it was a fitting scenario for the team, which showed resiliency on that night at McCrary Park and for the rest of the week. “Big wins, it feels nice,” said outfielder Owen Blackledge. “Baseball is a whole lot more fun when you’re winning.” Blackledge smashed a seventh-inning grand slam in that uprising…

23 Jul

Former standout McPeak holds Asheboro ZooKeepers coaching role

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

Tyler McPeak (Photo courtesy of Asheboro ZooKeepers) Ex-teammates view Tyler McPeak in a different capacity ASHEBORO – Tyler McPeak found so much to appreciate about the Asheboro ZooKeepers that he came back for another season. But he’s a coach now instead of one of the best players. McPeak is making the transition during the Coastal Plain League season after finishing his final collegiate season in the spring for Lenoir-Rhyne. “I was fortunate to play for Coach (Korey) Dunbar last summer,” McPeak said. “I figured I’d give coaching a shot.” McPeak was second-team All-South Atlantic Conference first baseman for Lenoir-Ryne this…

19 Jul

College destinations set for area athletes

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, cheerleading, College baseball, college recruiting, Eastern Randolph athletics, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Prep baseball, prep football, prep soccer, Prep volleyball, prep wrestling, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

Alby Pulaski of Wheatmore won’t be going far to play volleyball at the next level. (Randolph Record) Players have selected from a variety of colleges to continue in sports Here are some signees and commitments from the Class of 2024 from around Randolph County: (This list in addition to those previously reported.) Baseball Wheatmore’s Ayden Byrd signed to play for Division II Montreat. ** Jacob Proctor of Trinity is going to Division III Pfeiffer. ** Eastern Randolph’s Samuel Asbill, a pitcher who also plays for Randolph County Post 45’s American Legion team, selected Guilford Tech. ** Outfielders Carter Brown and…

17 Jul

Clemson pitcher embraces Asheboro mound time with ZooKeepers

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Clemson Tigers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, Noah Samol, summer college baseball

Noah Samol (Courtesy photo) ASHEBORO – Noah Samol still holds big aspirations as a college pitcher, and he came to Asheboro this summer to help get those on track. Samol is a Clemson pitcher who has taken the mound for the Asheboro ZooKeepers in the Coastal Plain League. “Glad to be out here,” Samol said. “You just got to go somewhere and just pitch.” It has been far from a simple path to this point. The start-and-stop nature of Samol’s baseball experiences began several years ago. He had Tommy John surgery as a high school sophomore in Mason, Ohio. He…