McCrary Park

Post 45 makes most of home action

Post 45 makes most of home action

Randolph County Post 45’s Grat Dalton reaches for the plate but is tagged out by Cleveland County Post 82 catcher Hagan Hoyle. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)   ASHEBORO – Randolph County Post 45 won all three games it completed in its first games this year at McCrary Park in Asheboro. The weekend victories against three different opponents pushed Post 45’s record to 14-1. With stadium renovations incomplete, the Randolph County team played road games or at Randleman High School in the first few weeks of the season. Then games early last week were rained out. The three-day event at McCrary Park…
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ZooKeepers finally find some answers

ZooKeepers finally find some answers

The Asheboro ZooKeepers have had mixed results from the mound during their games so far this season. (Photo courtesy of ZooKeepers) ASHEBORO – The Asheboro ZooKeepers made notable progress last week. The biggest of those achievements was finally winning a game. The Coastal Plain League baseball team lost its first six games of the season, which already has been disjointed by playing home games at UNC Greensboro while McCrary Park renovations are ongoing. The plan is to have the ZooKeepers playing in Asheboro by the end of this week. At least they’ve experienced success. The ZooKeepers didn’t pick up a…
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Returnees help Post 45 hit early groove

Returnees help Post 45 hit early groove

Pierce Leonard takes a swing for Randolph County Post 45. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Randolph County Post 45 has been off a strong start to the American Legion baseball season. The team has a good core of returning players who’ve produced across the first couple of weeks of the season. Post 45 had a 7-1 record – capped with a 5-4 victory at Davidson County last week – before a five-day break in the schedule. The team is slated to be back in action this week. The lone loss came by a 3-2 score at Rowan County. Twelve days later, Post…
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ZooKeepers take winding path to slow start

ZooKeepers take winding path to slow start

Members of the Asheboro ZooKeepers hang out at the dugout at UNCG. (Photo courtesy of ZooKeepers) GREENSBORO – College baseball players arrived to play a summer season in Asheboro. So far, they’ve played only elsewhere. That’s just part of the rough opening stretch of the season for the Asheboro ZooKeepers. “It’s a little strange,” said third baseman Tanner Thomas, who plays collegiately for Longwood. “We’re very thankful that we have a place like this to play.” He was referring to UNC Greensboro Baseball Stadium. With a renovation project behind schedule at McCrary Park, the ZooKeepers have mostly played road games…
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ZooKeepers, Post 45 wait on McCrary Park

ZooKeepers, Post 45 wait on McCrary Park

Randolph County Post 45 shortstop Tanner Marsh makes a tag at second base against Davidson County during an American Legion game last week in Randleman, where the team is playing home games temporarily. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The Asheboro ZooKeepers and Randolph County Post 45 baseball teams are playing relocated home games for perhaps a few more weeks as the latest renovation project at McCrary Park is keeping the park off limits to spectators. The ZooKeepers, a collegiate summer team, have reworked the early portion of their schedule and already have played road games. The team will play select…
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Championships help define 2022 for Randolph County sports

Championships help define 2022 for Randolph County sports

Summer Bowman of Wheatmore reacts after scoring a goal against Clinton in the Class 2-A state championship game. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Here’s a recap of notable Randolph County-related sports stories for 2022: ** Asheboro’s summer collegiate baseball team undergoes a rebranding that includes a name change. The new name is the Asheboro ZooKeepers in a switch from Asheboro Copperheads. ** Randleman’s girls’ basketball team goes through an undefeated regular season and completes a 25-1 season. The lone loss came in the Class 2-A West Region semifinals to Shelby. ** David Makupson of Trinity captures a state championship in Class 2-A…
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New GM for ZooKeepers holds unique background

New GM for ZooKeepers holds unique background

Melissa Godwin has joined the front office of the Asheboro ZooKeepers. (Courtesy photo) ASHEBORO – Melissa Godwin has clear baseball connections and those could be a boost for the Asheboro ZooKeepers. Godwin is the team’s new general manager and director of baseball operations. She’s wife to UNC Greensboro baseball coach Billy Godwin. “My résumé is pretty good without Billy,” she said. “(Taking this job) was the culmination of everything I’ve done.” She’ll largely handle the ZooKeepers operations. Dennis Garcia, who had been in that role, will concentrate primarily on the American Legion programs that are McCrary Park tenants and the…
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McCrary Park takes on another new look

McCrary Park takes on another new look

The grandstand has been flattened at McCrary Park as another phase of the renovation is in the works at the baseball park in Asheboro. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO — The grandstand is gone, and renovations are picking up again at McCrary Park. This latest development marks the latest phase in the upgrades for the baseball park. “It’s a lot of work to do,” said Ronnie Pugh, an owner of the Coastal Plain League’s Asheboro ZooKeepers. “It’s moving along, and it’s pretty exciting. It can’t happen soon enough.” For any past visitors, the sight of the grandstand no longer in place might…
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Area Sports Briefs: Fall baseball league nears; Poole, Shiflet help college teams; Check on Caraway

Area Sports Briefs: Fall baseball league nears; Poole, Shiflet help college teams; Check on Caraway

Fall league approaches for area high schools ASHEBORO – The annual fall baseball league that involves teams representing high schools around the region is set to begin next week at McCrary Park. Seven teams will participate, representing Asheboro, Uwharrie Charter Academy, Chatham Central, Jordan-Matthews, Lee County, Montgomery Central and North Moore. There are two games on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays beginning at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., with one game Thursday at 6 p.m. Each team will play two games per week. The Asheboro ZooKeepers organization is the host for the league.   Poole plays role for  Citadel in opener…
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Post 45 could have core of roster back next year

Post 45 could have core of roster back next year

Alex Martinez, shown here batting for Randolph County Post 45 during the Southeast Regional earlier this month in Asheboro, could be among the team's returning players for 2023. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)   ASHEBORO – When the season ended for Randolph County Post 45 earlier this month, it was a downer. The team lost back-to-back games to be eliminated from the Southeast Regional in American Legion baseball in its home ballpark. Yet there might have been a ray of hope regarding the future that day at McCrary Park. “Only three of our 17 players are gone,” Randolph County manager Ronnie Pugh…
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