McCrary Park - Randolph Record

13 Apr

Matchups set for spring break baseball games at McCrary Park

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Faith Christian, McCrary Park, Prep baseball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Wheatmore Warriors, Zookeepers

ASHEBORO — High school baseball teams from six counties will appear during the ZooKeepers Classic this week. Most of the scheduled 14 games include at least one team from Randolph County. Ten teams will play at least one game. There were slight schedule changes from original versions. Beginning Monday, there will be five days of competition, all with predetermined matchups at McCrary Park. The event is no longer a true tournament format, but it allows for more schools to participate and for coaches to better plan the week when some players might not be available. “Coaches said they want to…

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…

14 Dec

Hunt to coach Asheboro baseball team on interim basis

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, Brad Rudisill, Glen Hunt, McCrary Park, Prep baseball

Glen Hunt (Courtesy photo) ASHEBORO – Glen Hunt will fill the role as interim coach of Asheboro’s baseball team for the 2025 season. The school announced that Brad Rudisill, who was hired in June, is taking a leave of absence from coaching due to family matters. “We deeply respect and support his decision and look forward to reconvening with him around the middle of April to discuss the future of his head coaching career here at Asheboro High School,” athletics director Wes Berrier said. Hunt, 55, is a veteran coach in the area and served last season as an Asheboro…

12 Aug

Alabama team prevails in Southeast Regional against North Carolina champion

Randolph RecordSportsAmerican Legion baseball, McCrary Park, Southeast Regional

ASHEBORO – Troy (Ala.) Post 70 needed a full day of baseball to win American Legion’s Southeast Regional on Sunday at McCrary Park. Troy recovered from a loss to edge North Carolina champion Wayne County Post 11 by 5-4 in nine innings on Cody Walsh’s two-out single. Troy will be in the American Legion World Series, which begins this week in Shelby, for the third year in a row. Wayne County, which was a first-time North Carolina state champion, won its third consecutive game after a loss by topping Troy 4-1 earlier Sunday. That was Troy’s first loss, so it…

09 Aug

Post 45’s season ends with quick ouster in regional

Randolph RecordSportsAmerican Legion baseball, McCrary Park, Post 45, Randolph County Post 45, Southeast Regional

Randolph County Post 45 second baseman Pierce Leonard makes a play during the team’s opening game of the Southeast Regional earlier this week. Center fielder Cade Hill and pitcher Connor Adams look on. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The host team is out of the Southeast Regional for American Legion baseball. Randolph County Post 45 lost for the second time in as many nights, falling 11-2 to Camden (S.C.) Post 17 in a weather-delayed elimination game Thursday at McCrary Park. Camden scored three first-inning runs and led 9-2 through four innings. Starting pitcher Parker Kines took the loss…

08 Aug

Post 45 hit by flood of runs in losing Southeast Regional opener

Randolph RecordSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Connor Adams, McCrary Park, Post 45, Randolph County Post 45, Samuel Asbill, Southeast Regional

Randolph County Post 45’s Samuel Asbill pitches in relief in the American Legion’s Southeast Regional on Wednesday night. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The beginning of the Southeast Regional for American Legion baseball didn’t go well for host Randolph County Post 45. Chesapeake (Va.) Post 280 routed Post 45 by 16-2 on Wednesday night at McCrary Park. It was the final game of the opening day. Post 45 will try to keep its season alive when facing Camden (S.C.) Post 17 in an elimination game at 12:30 p.m. Thursday. Chesapeake drilled Randolph County for eight first-inning runs as…

06 Aug

Pitching depth could be focus for Post 45 in regional

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Asheboro, Drew Harmon, McCrary Park, Post 45, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh, Southeast Regional

Drew Harmon throws a pitch for Randolph County Post 45 earlier this season in American Legion baseball. (Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Randolph County Post 45 needs pitching depth to challenge for the American Legion’s Southeast Regional title. Despite a regular season that didn’t pan out well, Post 45 enters this week with a chance to make things right as the host team at McCrary Park. In order to advance as far as Sunday’s title game, Randolph County will rely on pitching. That’s where Drew Harmon and others can make a difference. Harmon emerged as among the key pitchers this year.…

03 Aug

After long break, Post 45 set for Southeast Regional

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, McCrary Park, Post 45, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh, Southeast Regional

Randolph County Post 45’s Caleb Stickle passes manager Ronnie Pugh while on a home run trot during a game in June at McCrary Park. (Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The first part of the American Legion baseball season was too short for Randolph County Post 45. There’s still a chance for Post 45 to make it a long season. The team’s month-long layoff will end next week in the Southeast Regional at McCrary Park. As host, Post 45 has an automatic spot in the eight-team, double-elimination bracket. “We’ve had some times when we had a week to 10 days off, but…

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…

10 Jul

Close games prove costly for ZooKeepers

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, Lenoir-Rhyne, McCrary Park, Owen Blackledge, summer college baseball, Zach Evans

Zach Evans takes a swing during a recent game for the Asheboro ZooKeepers. (P.J. Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The Asheboro ZooKeepers were involved in a bunch of close games heading into the Coastal Plain League’s all-star break. Not all of those outcomes worked out well for the ZooKeepers. So when play resumed this week, the ZooKeepers were in sixth place in the eight-team West Division with a 5-6 second-half record in the split season. The ZooKeepers ended last week with a pair of games with the High Point-Thomasville HiToms. Asheboro outfielder Owen Blackledge was dubbed the top hitter…