McCrary Park - Randolph Record

11 Jun

ZooKeepers take winding path to slow start

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, Forest City, McCrary Park, summer college baseball, UNCG

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…

06 Jun

ZooKeepers, Post 45 wait on McCrary Park

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Asheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, McCrary Park, Randleman High School, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh, Tanner Marsh

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…

31 Dec

Championships help define 2022 for Randolph County sports

Bob SuttonSportsAldo Hernandez, Asheboro Zookeepers, Brooks Brannon, David Makupson, Grayson Roberts, McCrary Park, nchsaa, prep sports, Randleman athletics, Randleman baseball, Tot Hill Farm Golf Club, Wheatmore soccer

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…

03 Nov

New GM for ZooKeepers holds unique background

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, McCrary Park, Melissa Godwin, summer college baseball

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…

21 Oct

McCrary Park takes on another new look

Bob SuttonNews, SportsAmerican Legion baseball, Asheboro Zookeepers, City of Asheboro, Coastal Plain League, McCrary Park, Randolph County Post 45

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…

09 Sep

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

Bob SuttonSportsCaraway speedway, Dominick Poole, McCrary Park, Payton Shiflet, Prep baseball

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…

26 Aug

Post 45 could have core of roster back next year

Bob SuttonSportsAdam Cole, American Legion baseball, Braylen Hayes, McCrary Park, Post 45, Randleman baseball, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh, Southeast Regional, Tanner Marsh, Trey Way, Tyler Parks

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…

09 Aug

ZooKeepers coach departs after two seasons

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, Jeremy Knight, McCrary Park, Southern Alamance

Jeremy Knight decided to give up his job with the Asheboro ZooKeepers. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Jeremy Knight has stepped away from his roles with the Asheboro ZooKeepers. After guiding the Coastal Plain League baseball team for two seasons, he decided to resign as head coach and co-general manager. “It was becoming too much with two kids,” he said, calling it a family decision. “This year wore me out.” Knight’s record with the college summer team was 37-56, including a league-worst 14-33 mark this season. He’s returning to a teaching position at Southern Alamance High School. “It wasn’t because…

06 Aug

Season fizzles on Post 45 in elimination loss

Bob SuttonSportsAdam Cole, American Legion baseball, Braylen Hayes, McCrary Park, Post 45, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh, Southeast Regional, Trey Way, Wilmington Post 10

Randolph County Post 45 team members go through their final postgame handshake line of the season Saturday at McCrary Park. ASHEBORO – This Randolph County Post 45 baseball team seemed built for big things. Too many big innings for opponents became the undoing for the host team in the American Legion’s Southeast Regional. “I definitely think we could have had a better season than this,” left fielder Adam Cole said. The end came with a 15-5 loss to Wilmington Post 10 in an elimination game Saturday at McCrary Park. The game was reduced to five innings by the mercy rule,…

06 Aug

Problems pile up on Post 45 in first regional loss

Bob SuttonSportsAdam Cole, American Legion baseball, Braylen Hayes, McCrary Park, Post 45, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh, Southeast Regional, Trey Way

Randolph County Post 45 coaches Ryan Hill, left, Ronnie Pugh and Andrew Conner will need a plan to win three more games in the Southeast Regional. (File photo) Randolph County needs turnaround to extend season ASHEBORO -- It didn’t start well for Randolph County Post 45. Then it got worse Friday night. Yet if there’s a good omen for the host team in Southeast Regional for American Legion baseball, things are bound to get better this weekend. Or else the season will come to a disheartening conclusion. “It’s an eye-opener,” Post 45 catcher Alex Martinez said after the 12-7 loss…