Eastern Randolph athletics - Randolph Record

10 Aug

Widespread success reshapes Eastern Randolph’s reputation

Bob SuttonSportsDevonte Brooks, Eastern Randolph athletics, Foster Cates, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, Prep Basketball, prep football

Among the thrills for Eastern Randolph during the past school year came following a road victory against South Stokes in the boys’ basketball state playoffs as coach Johnny Thomas and the team celebrate. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) RAMSEUR – Eastern Randolph had a different kind of school year in 2022-23. For athletics director Foster Cates, the perception of athletics at the school might be changing. That’s because the Wildcats advanced to the Class 1-A state championship game in boys’ basketball. That had never happened before. “It has been such a football and baseball dominant school forever,” Cates said. “I wanted…

09 Aug

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Kahlin Graham

Randolph RecordBusiness, SportsEastern Randolph athletics, Eastern Randolph baseball, Kahlin Graham, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball

Eastern Randolph, baseball Graham played a variety of positions for the Wildcats, often in the infield as the third baseman. He also was listed as a pitcher. The Wildcats reached the Class 1-A West Region finals before falling to eventual state champion Uwharrie Charter Academy. Graham is set to continue playing baseball at Guilford College. ** During the summer, we recognize seniors from the past school year.

01 Aug

Leonard takes baseball path with Post 45; Southeast Regional set to begin in Asheboro

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Eastern Randolph athletics, McCrary Park, Pierce Leonard, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh, Southeast Regional

Second baseman Pierce Leonard of Randolph County Post 45 makes a play in the field earlier this season. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Pierce Leonard is a first-year member of the Randolph County Post 45 baseball team. There’s a reason that he pursued American Legion baseball this summer. Having finished his final high school year at Eastern Randolph after transferring from Uwharrie Charter Academy, Leonard chose baseball as a preference in terms of a sport to play in college. “I figured I could go farther with baseball than I could basketball,” Leonard said. He said he’ll play baseball at Guilford…

28 Jul

In review: UCA’s state titles highlight top area moments

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Brecken Snotherly, Connor Carter, Eastern Randolph athletics, Hunter Atkins, Providence Grove athletics, Randleman athletics, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Tanner Marsh, UCA wrestling, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics, Wheatmore athletics

Members of the Uwharrie Charter Academy wrestling team celebrate a dual team state championship last winter. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) There were championships and near misses and an assortment of other superlatives associated with the 2022-23 school year for Randolph County high school teams. Uwharrie Charter Academy racked up a pair of team state championships in Class 1-A. The Eagles secured the dual team wrestling title and a few months later picked up the baseball crown. ** Eastern Randolph’s boys’ basketball team had its most successful season ever by advancing to the Class 1-A state championship game. Wilson Prep won the…

21 Jul

Piedmont Athletic Conference all-conference spring lists

Randolph RecordSportsConnor Carter, Eastern Randolph athletics, Ellie Garrison, Hunter Atkins, piedmont athletic conference, Providence Grove athletics, Randleman athletics, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Summer Bowman, Trinity athletics, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics, Wheatmore athletics

Hunter Atkins of Randleman takes a swing during a Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament game against Trinity. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Here’s a list of the Piedmont Athletic Conference’s major award winners and all-conference selections for spring sports: Baseball Player of the Year: Hunter Atkins (Randleman) Co-Pitchers of the Year: Austin Lemons (Randleman), Cade Hill (Trinity) Coach of the Year: Ryan Spencer (Trinity) All-conference Randleman: Hunter Atkins, Austin Lemons, Shawn Miller, Seth Way. Trinity: Jaxson Coble, Cade Hill, Jake Little, Landon Mowery. Southwestern Randolph: Easton Clapp, Adam Cole, Tyler Parks. Wheatmore: Payton Mooney, Mason Rich. Providence Grove: Joe Coltrane, Logan Fox, Andrew Thomas. Eastern Randolph: Samuel Asbill,…

21 Jun

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Skylar Pugh

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Eastern Randolph athletics, Home Plate Motors, Prep softball, prep sports, softball

Eastern Randolph, softball – Pugh was a force in the pitching circle and at the plate for the Wildcats during her senior season. She posted eight wins to go with two saves as a pitcher. She was credited with 131 strikeouts in 69 innings. Pugh’s four home runs were second on the team. Eastern Randolph finished with an 18-6 record. That’s the most wins for the Wildcats since 2019.

26 May

UCA Eagles sweep Eastern Randolph in regional finals

Bob SuttonSportsBen Medinger, Brent Haynes, class 1-A, Eastern Randolph athletics, Jake Hunter, nchsaa, piedmont athletic conference, Pierce Leonard, Prep baseball, Rob Shore, Stratton Barwick, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

UCA team members gather after winning the Class 1-A West Region title. Clutch late-inning work boosts UCA’s baseball team RAMSEUR – It was pretty much a matter of Uwharrie Charter Academy’s baseball team making the best of tough situations Thursday night. By doing so, the Eagles are heading to where they want to go. UCA completed a Class 1-A West Regional finals sweep of Eastern Randolph by winning 8-1 in Game 2, scoring all their runs in the last two innings. “It still hasn’t sunk in,” UCA senior Ben Medinger said of the chance to play for a state title.…

22 May

Prep Golf, Track: Carter claims second again in state tourney; Beane jumps to runner-up spot

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Brecken Snotherly, Chase Farlow, Connor Carter, Dylan Hodges, Eastern Randolph athletics, Gracie Beane, Lance Everhart, Randleman athletics, Zach Hazelwood

Connor Carter of Eastern Randolph tees off during the Class 1-A state tournament last week at Pinehurst No. 6. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) PINEHURST – Eastern Randolph senior Connor Carter was the runner-up again in the Class 1-A state tournament for boys’ golf. Carter shot rounds of 70 and 77 for 3-over-par 147 last week at Pinehurst No. 6. He was behind only Mitchell’s Connor Warren, the defending champion who checked in at 11-under 133 with rounds of 65 and 68. Carter had a four-shot edge on third-place finisher Reid Smith of South Stanly. In Class 2-A at Longleaf Golf &…

21 May

Softball teams ousted in fourth round

Randolph RecordSportsAddie Flinchum, Eastern Randolph athletics, Macie Crutchfield, nchsaa, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

Jayla Ferguson scores for Uwharrie Charter Academy in a softball victory against North Stokes in the third round of the Class 1-A state playoffs. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record) All in one night, the dreams of state championships for three Randolph County softball teams were dashed. They all had reached West Regional semifinals, but then Southwestern Randolph, Eastern Randolph and Uwharrie Charter Academy went down Friday night. Class 2-A At Asheboro, West Wilkes knocked off host Southwestern Randolph 2-1 in 10 innings. Leah Greene’s sacrifice fly in the 10th inning for third-seeded West Wilkes was the difference. Second-seeded Southwestern Randolph (22-2)…

20 May

UCA, Eastern Randolph advance to Class 1-A showdown; Randleman’s reign ends in Class 2-A upset

Randolph RecordSportsEastern Randolph athletics, Hunter Atkins, nchsaa, Prep baseball, Randleman baseball, Rob Shore, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

Coach Rob Shore has guided Uwharrie Charter Academy deep into the state playoffs in his first season in that role. (Randolph Record) There will be a Randolph County baseball team in the state finals. It won’t be Randleman. Either Uwharrie Charter Academy or Eastern Randolph will be in the Class 1-A state championship series in the first weekend of June. Those teams will meet in a best-of-3 West Regional final. Two-time defending Class 2-A state champion Randleman was bounced in Friday night’s fourth round by Eden Morehead. Here’s a recap of how it has shaken out: Class 1-A The only…