Emma Mazzarone - Randolph Record

29 Feb

College Notes: Success comes early in season on diamonds for Randolph County products

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, College baseball, College softball, Emma Mazzarone, Landon Mowery, Luke Thomas, Tanner Marsh, Trevor Marsh, Tyler McPeak

Emma Mazzarone There were some impressive debuts on collegiate diamonds for players with Randolph County ties. And some strong efforts early in the season for veteran plays as well. Let’s take a look: Mazzarone shines early Virginia Tech freshman Emma Mazzarone racked up a 3-1 pitching record that included a softball victory against third-ranked Georgia on Friday. She logged 1 1/3 innings of shutout relief to improve her record to 3-1. Of her first seven pitching outings, three came in starts for the former Providence Grove standout. She recorded 14 strikeouts in her first 20 2/3 innings. Mazzarone’s first collegiate…

15 May

Prep softball: Cougars bounce Patriots; Eastern Randolph, UCA advance

Randolph RecordSportsEastern Randolph athletics, Emma Mazzarone, Macie Crutchfield, nchsaa, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

Southwestern Randolph pitcher Macie Crutchfield delivers to the plate against Providence Grove. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Southwestern Randolph had a challenge from in-county rival Providence Grove in the second round of the Class 2-A state playoffs. The Cougars had the right combination, riding Macie Crutchfield’s no-hitter to Friday night’s 5-0 victory. Southwestern Randolph (21-1) has a third-round home game against No. 10 seed Mount Pleasant on Tuesday night. Ky Perdue went 3-for-3 and scored three runs, while Madison Varner drove in two runs. Providence Grove pitcher Emma Mazzarone’s prep career ended despite 13 strikeouts without a walk. The Patriots…

05 May

Cruising Cougars collect PAC Tournament title in softball

Randolph RecordSportsCaressa King, Carleigh Whitson, Class 2-A, Emma Mazzarone, Macie Crutchfield, piedmont athletic conference, Prep softball, Providence Grove athletics, Southwestern Randolph Cougars

Southwestern Randolph team members celebrate after the PAC Tournament championship game against visiting Providence Grove. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Macie Crutchfield threw a three-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts as Southwestern Randolph completed its domination of the Piedmont Athletic Conference with Thursday night’s 7-0 victory against visiting Providence Grove in the league tournament championship game. Carleigh Whitson had two hits and two runs batted in to help the Cougars to their first conference tournament title in eight years. Caressa King, who had a triple, drove in one run and scored a run, while Madelyn Smith and Madison Varner both knocked…

24 Apr

Prep Roundup: Randleman claims PAC baseball crown

Randolph RecordSportsAndrew Canter, Ben Medinger, Cade Hill, Ellie Garrison, Emma Mazzarone, Macie Crutchfield, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, prep soccer, Prep softball, Randleman baseball, Seth Way, Summer Bowman

Eastern Randolph’s softball team has had lots to cheer about this season despite last week’s loss to Southwestern Randolph. (File photo) RANDLEMAN – Randleman avenged a loss from three nights earlier to defeat visiting Trinity 6-1 on Friday night and secure another Piedmont Athletic Conference baseball championship. The Tigers (17-4 overall, 10-2 PAC) won their regular-season home finale. They’ll be the top seed for the conference tournament as a prelude to their bid for a third consecutive Class 2-A state championship. Second-place Trinity won 3-2 earlier last week behind Cade Hill’s complete-game pitching and Landon Mowery’s home run. The Bulldogs…

15 Apr

Prep Softball: Cougars stay on target with more romps

Randolph RecordSportsEmma Mazzarone, Macie Crutchfield, piedmont athletic conference, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars

Macie Crutchfield has been stellar as Southwestern Randolph’s ace pitcher. (Randolph Record file photo) Southwestern Randolph continued its dominance in softball with three more victories. The biggest came against defending Piedmont Athletic Conference champion Providence Grove, which fell by 7-1 to the Cougars. By week’s end, the Cougars held a 14-0 overall record and a 9-0 PAC mark, nearly wrapping up the regular-season title. Macie Crutchfield struck out 14 Providence Grove batters with a four-hitter. She walked three. Maddie Strider scored two runs. Southwestern Randolph then socked host Central Davidson 19-3 behind Madison Varner’s five runs batted in. The Cougars…

06 Apr

Mazzarone maintains rapid rate of strikeouts for Patriots

Bob SuttonSportsEmma Mazzarone, piedmont athletic conference, Prep softball, Providence Grove athletics, Virginia Tech

Emma Mazzarone of Providence Grove fires a pitch earlier this season. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Providence Grove senior pitcher holds dominating form CLIMAX – Emma Mazzarone doesn’t mind the workload that comes with being Providence Grove’s ace softball pitcher. She keeps on striking out batters at a staggering rate. “Before every game, I’ll try not to put a number in my head,” Mazzarone said of strikeout totals. “I try to pitch to certain batters to strike them out. And if they get a hit, more power to them. I’m really just focused on what I’m going to pitch to each and…

04 Apr

Prep Roundup: Homers highlight baseball action; Cougars stay unbeaten in softball

Randolph RecordSportsAdam Cole, Addie Flinchum, Andrew Canter, Austin Lemons, Caleb Dunn, Davis Gore, Emma Mazzarone, Josh Meadows, Maddie Varner, Prep baseball, prep soccer, Prep softball, Summer Bowman, Tanner Marsh, Tyler Parks

Wheatmore’s Summer Bowman, shown here during the 2022 postseason, continues to be a force on the school’s girls’ soccer team. (Randolph Record file photo) Home runs proved big for several Randolph County baseball teams last week. Austin Lemons homered in Randleman’s 11-6 home victory against Uwharrie Charter Academy in the Piedmont Athletic Conference. Troy Carver homered for UCA. In the rematch, Lemons struck out 14 in a complete game as the Tigers won 5-0 on the road. Caleb Dunn supplied three hits and John Kirkpatrick drove in two runs. In between those games, Dunn homered in Randleman’s 5-2 home victory…

27 Mar

Prep Roundup: Cougars stay on rise in softball

Randolph RecordSportsEmma Mazzarone, Josh Meadows, Macie Crutchfield, Prep baseball, Prep softball, prep track and field, Zach Hazelwood

Wheatmore’s Skylar Pittman tags Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Kenzie Hill at second base during Friday’s softball game. UCA won 11-1 in the home game. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record) Southwestern Randolph’s softball team has been listed among highly ranked teams in the state and the Cougars have the results to back that up. Southwestern Randolph won 1-0 in 10 innings against visiting Oak Grove last week as Carleigh Whitson drove in Kami Dunn to end the game. Macie Crutchfield had a three-hitter with 13 strikeouts for the Cougars, who entered this week with an 8-0 overall record. In the Piedmont Athletic Conference, Southwestern…

21 Mar

Prep Roundup: Spring athletes hit strides

Randolph RecordSportsConnor Carter, Devonte Brooks, Eastern Randolph athletics, Ellie Garrison, Emma Mazzarone, Jake Little, Stratton Barwick, Tanner Marsh, Tess Moody, Wheatmore athletics

Logan Zepfir of UCA slides in safely at the plate as Trinity catcher Eva Porter applies a late tag during a PAC softball game earlier this season. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Three days after appearing in the Class 1-A state championship game for boys’ basketball, Eastern Randolph’s Connor Carter shot 44 for second place in a Piedmont Athletic Conference boys’ golf match at Colonial Country Club. Ryan Marshall of Wheatmore was the winner with 43. In a PAC match Thursday at Tot Hill Farm, Carter topped the seven-team field by shooting 37 for a six-shot victory on runner-up Cooper Wright of…

14 Mar

Prep softball: Patriots go through process in new season

Bob SuttonSportsEmma Mazzarone, Macie Crutchfield, Prep softball, Providence Grove athletics, Providence Grove softball, Southwestern Randolph

Providence Grove’s Leela Von Der Hay tags out Southwestern Randolph’s Madison Varner. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) CLIMAX – Some growing pains are going to be part of the process for Providence Grove’s softball team this season. That’s fine with coach Tim Brown as long as the Patriots show progress. Providence Grove was undefeated in the regular season last year, but five starters are gone from that team. “Comparing everything to last year would be difficult for everybody,” senior pitcher Emma Mazzarone said. “It was a special team. This year could be special, too. You can’t compare to last year because it…