Nate Cockman - Randolph Record

18 Jun

American Legion baseball: Post 45 edges Post 81 again in intra-county clash

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Caleb Dunn, Liberty Post 81, Nate Cockman, Parker Kines, Pierce Leonard, Post 45, Post 81, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh

Post 45 pitcher Parker Kines (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Parker Kines wasn’t certain he would play American Legion baseball, but it has turned out to be a good thing for him and Randolph County Post 45 so far this season. Kines was on the mound for a strong start as Post 45 topped Liberty Post 81 for the second time in five nights, a 6-4 decision Monday night at McCrary Park. “I wasn’t planning on this,” he said of the summer activity. “But my coach (at Wheatmore) said it would be a good idea.” Kines, a rising…

21 May

Post 81 returns to action after one-year hiatus in American Legion baseball

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Eastern Randolph, Liberty Post 81, Nate Cockman, Post 81, Providence Grove

RAMSEUR – Baseball is back on the top American Legion level for Post 81. The Liberty Post 81 team began the season last week after a one-year hiatus. “With the community involvement, we were able to make it happen,” said Nate Cockman, the head coach. “We took that summer off to get those young guys ready.” With 18 players on board and potentially a couple of more, it’s a foundation that Cockman said he likes even with about half the players coming off their freshman years of high school. “It’s good for the future,” he said. “It’s going to be…

25 Aug

Eastern Randolph alum Cockman takes baseball coaching job

Bob SuttonSportsBrent Haynes, Eastern Randolph athletics, Eastern Randolph baseball, Nate Cockman, Prep baseball

New Eastern Randolph baseball coach Nate Cockman talks with his Chatham-Randolph Pony League All-Star team earlier this month. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) RAMSEUR – Nate Cockman’s rise to a head coaching position in high school baseball happened faster than he envisioned. He’s grateful for that. He’s the new coach at Eastern Randolph. “It all happened pretty quick,” Cockman said. “The doors opened at once. I couldn’t say ‘yes’ fast enough.” The 2017 graduate takes over at his alma mater because Brent Haynes left after one season. Haynes took the coaching job at Burlington Williams. Cockman had been coaching at Southeastern Randolph…

16 Jun

Post 81 sponsors younger team, skips American Legion season

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Eastern Randolph Post 81, Nate Cockman

Eastern Randolph Post 81 pitcher Samuel Asbill throws to a Foothills batter last year. This year, Asbill is on the Randolph County Post 45 roster. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) RAMSEUR – There’s no American Legion baseball season for Eastern Randolph Post 81 this year, but planning for the future is being emphasized. Low player availability surfaced last year. Without a clear remedy for that, organizers opted to focus on younger players who might help revive the program. “We didn’t want to field a team with 11 guys and then not be able to play some nights,” said Nate Cockman, who was…