John Kirkpatrick - Randolph Record

17 May

UCA takes road back to regional baseball finals, will face Eastern Randolph next

Randolph RecordSportsBryson Marley, class 1-A, Class 2-A, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Grat Dalton, Jake Hunter, John Kirkpatrick, Jose Ramirez, Logun Wilkins, nchsaa, Prep baseball, Randleman Tigers, Rob Shore, state playoffs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Uwharrie Charter Academy baseball coach Rob Shore talks to his team before Friday night’s Class 1A game in the state playoffs at Cherryville. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) CHERRYVILLE – Uwharrie Charter Academy is back in another Class 1A West Region baseball finals and there’s a familiar tone. The opponent for this week’s best-of-3 finals is Eastern Randolph, a rival in the Piedmont Athletic Conference. Both teams won fourth-round road games Friday night to keep their seasons going. One of them will play in the state championship series later this month. “Our guys are resilient,” UCA coach Rob Shore said.…

14 May

Randleman keeps the faith, overcomes Trinity in state-playoff baseball thriller

Bob SuttonSportsBraxton Walker, Brody Little, Class 2-A, Ethan Willard, Jackson Hill, Jake Riddle, Jake Smith, John Kirkpatrick, Lincoln Coble, McCrary Park, Prep baseball, Randleman Tigers, Ryan Spencer, state playoffs, Tate Andrews, Trinity Bulldogs

Randleman’s Jackson Hill heads for the plate to score the winning run in the Tigers’ Class 2A state-playoff victory against Trinity. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO — Members of the Randleman baseball team were certain they’d figure out a way to win the third-round round game of the Class 2A state playoffs against Trinity. They just weren't quite sure how. “We always had faith that we were going to win the game,” infielder Tate Andrews said. “That helps us not let the pressure get to us.” The Tigers erased a two-run deficit and then went to the bottom of…

25 Apr

Randleman slams Trinity, secures another PAC baseball title

Bob SuttonSportsBraxton Walker, Jake Smith, John Kirkpatrick, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, Randleman Tigers, Ryan Spencer, Tate Andrews, Trinity Bulldogs

Randleman’s Braxton Walker unloads for a tiebreaking grand slam against Trinity in the Tigers’ PAC-clinching victory. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) RANDLEMAN — Randleman’s baseball team ended up in a familiar spot by the time the Piedmont Athletic Conference portion of its season was complete. The Tigers are in first place again. “I had no doubt,” pitcher / first baseman Braxton Walker said. “The guys come to practice and we and the team morale is as high as it ever has been.” The clinching victory came with an 8-1 decision against visiting Trinity on Friday night as John Kirkpatrick threw…

11 Apr

Prep baseball: Randleman, UCA make progress in PAC race

Randolph RecordSportsJohn Kirkpatrick, Prep baseball, Randleman Tigers, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

There was little movement in the Piedmont Athletic Conference baseball standings this week with a slate of games rained out or suspended. But Randleman inched closer to another conference championship. The Tigers have won or shared regular-season league titles every year since a second-place spot in 2009. Randleman rode six innings of pitching from John Kirkpatrick to an 8-2 home victory against Providence Grove. Kirkpatrick also had two hits and scored two runs. Tate Andrews scored two runs. The rematch was suspended in the fourth inning Thursday at Providence Grove. It will resume April 23. So with no conference games…

19 Oct

Prep football: Blue Comets snap conference drought; Wheatmore nabs first victory

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Cade McCallum, John Kirkpatrick, Johnathan Kelly, Lucas Smith, Mid-Piedmont Conference, piedmont athletic conference, prep football, Tyshaun Goldston, Wheatmore Warriors

ASHEBORO – Aiden Robinson ran 15 yards for a third-quarter touchdown and Asheboro’s football team won a Mid-Piedmont Conference game for the first time since 2019, defeating visiting North Davidson 17-14 on Friday night. Robinson’s go-ahead run and Micah Garcia’s extra-point kick were the only points of the second half. Asheboro (3-5 overall, 1-2 Mid-Piedmont Conference) opened the scoring on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Logan Laughlin to Elijah Woodley in the first quarter. Garcia had a 23-yard field goal for the Blue Comets in the second quarter, but North Davidson (2-6, 1-2) led 14-10 at halftime. Since winning the…

23 Sep

Prep football: Randleman, E. Randolph stay unbeaten with late-game drama

Randolph RecordSportsEastern Randolph Wildcats, Elijah Woodle, John Kirkpatrick, Johnathan Kelly, prep football, Quincey Lee, Randleman Tigers, Rayden West, Tyshaun Goldston

Staying undefeated in high school football meant dramatics for Randleman and Eastern Randolph in Friday night’s games. Randleman needed a fourth-quarter comeback and overtime to withstand host Asheboro. Eastern Randolph scored the on the final play to top visiting Central Davidson. Randleman 34, Asheboro 27, OT: Brayden Gladden scored on a touchdown run in overtime and the Tigers (5-0) began the extra session with points. Randleman’s stopped the Blue Comets on the ensuing possession to notch the non-conference victory. Randleman’s Tyshaun Goldston scored on two second-half touchdowns reception, and then ran for the tying two-point conversion following the second of…

08 Sep

Randleman’s resiliency goes well with Kirkpatrick-to-Goldston connections in conquering Bunker Hill

Bob SuttonSportsClass 2-A, John Kirkpatrick, Payton Patterson, prep football, Randleman Tigers, Tyshaun Goldston

Randleman quarterback John Kirkpatrick looks to throw downfield against Bunker Hill on Friday night. (Jann Ortiz / For Randolph Record) RANDLEMAN – Randleman’s football team put on an impressive aerial show Friday night before the need to regroup against Bunker Hill. The Tigers mastered that as well in pulling out a 35-21 non-conference home victory in a matchup between teams that might be Class 2A state contenders. “We knew it was going to be a challenge,” Randleman quarterback John Kirkpatrick said. “I’m just glad my guys could come out here and execute the way they could. I’m just thankful for…

24 Aug

Prep football: Asheboro, Randleman, Eastern Randolph, Providence Grove win openers

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, DJ Scott, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, John Kirkpatrick, Johnathan Kelly, Mark Heilig, prep football, Providence Grove Patriots, Randleman Tigers

Defenses for Randleman and Eastern Randolph were in good form and Asheboro’s offense put up the most points of any Randolph County team in the first week of the high school football season. There were a couple of coaches in their first games with Randolph County teams, with a win and a loss in those outcomes. Friday night’s openers provided an array of outcomes and storylines. Here’s a look.: Asheboro 38, Albemarle 14: At Albemarle, DJ Scott gained 226 rushing yards and scored two touchdowns as the visiting Blue Comets won their opener for the second year in a row.…

04 Nov

Prep football: Eastern Randolph, Randleman roll in first round

Randolph RecordSportsclass 1-A, Class 2-A, Dominic Payne, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, John Kirkpatrick, Nathan Ellis, prep football, Randleman Tigers, Tyshaun Goldston

It worked out well for a couple of Randolph County football teams playing home games Friday night when the state playoffs began. Not so much for teams going on the road. Eastern Randolph and Randleman were the lone county teams to keep their seasons alive. Here’s a look: Eastern Randolph 68, Cherryville 7: In Class 1-A at Ramseur, the third-seeded Wildcats cruised against the No. 30 seed. Eastern Randolph (10-1) has won 10 consecutive games. Next, the Wildcats welcome No. 14 seed Hayesville (7-4) for a second-round game. Hayesville topped Christ the King 28-0 in the first round. Randleman 43,…

28 Oct

Prep football: Eastern Randolph nips Randleman for PAC title

Randolph RecordSportsCarter Revelle, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, John Kirkpatrick, Lucas Smith, Nicah Taylor, PAC, piedmont athletic conference, prep football, Randleman Tigers, Timothy Brower, Tyshaun Goldston

RANDLEMAN – Carter Revelle threw 39 yards to Nicah Taylor for a third-quarter touchdown in a 22-21 victory against previously undefeated Randleman on Friday night in the regular-season finale to determine the Piedmont Athletic Conference championship. The Wildcats (9-1 overall, 5-0 PAC) have gone unbeaten in 15 games in the conference’s current configuration. Revelle threw for two touchdowns, completing 12 of 16 passes for 162 yards. Lucas Smith ran for 104 yards on 29 carries. Randleman quarterback John Kirkpatrick threw for two touchdowns and was intercepted twice. Teammate Edison Hernandez rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown. Hernandez opened the…