piedmont athletic conference - Randolph Record

18 Apr

Varner leaves post as Randleman girls’ coach

Bob SuttonSportsBrandon Varner, nchsaa, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, Randleman athletics

Coach Brandon Varner had Randleman’s girls’ basketball team on a winning path. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) RANDLEMAN – Brandon Varner’s wildly successful five-season stretch as Randleman’s girls’ basketball coach has come to an end. “Just time to step away,” Varner said. “The biggest thing was the time I was putting into basketball. There’s really no breaks.” Under Varner, the Tigers went 103-20, with half those defeats coming in his first season when the team went 15-10. Varner, 40, will remain as athletics director at Randleman Middle School, where he also is on the football staff. “It was just getting to be…

17 Apr

Prep Baseball: Patriots pin streak-halting loss on Randleman

Bob SuttonSportsAndrew Canter, Hunter Atkins, Lemuel Coltrane, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, Providence Grove athletics, Randleman athletics, Randleman baseball, Seth Way

Logan Fox of Providence Grove had a role in tight baseball games with Randleman last week. (Randolph Record file photo) Providence Grove did what might have seemed like the unthinkable in Piedmont Athletic Conference baseball last week. The Patriots knocked off state power Randleman and ended a multi-year streak of domination. “Probably was unexpected,” Providence Grove coach Glen Hunt said. “Not a lot of people thought we could go in and win that game.” Providence Grove’s 3-2 victory halted Randleman’s 38-game winning streak against conference opponents that spread across parts of five seasons. And two days later, the Patriots nearly…

15 Apr

Prep Softball: Cougars stay on target with more romps

Randolph RecordSportsEmma Mazzarone, Macie Crutchfield, piedmont athletic conference, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars

Macie Crutchfield has been stellar as Southwestern Randolph’s ace pitcher. (Randolph Record file photo) Southwestern Randolph continued its dominance in softball with three more victories. The biggest came against defending Piedmont Athletic Conference champion Providence Grove, which fell by 7-1 to the Cougars. By week’s end, the Cougars held a 14-0 overall record and a 9-0 PAC mark, nearly wrapping up the regular-season title. Macie Crutchfield struck out 14 Providence Grove batters with a four-hitter. She walked three. Maddie Strider scored two runs. Southwestern Randolph then socked host Central Davidson 19-3 behind Madison Varner’s five runs batted in. The Cougars…

13 Apr

Former Wheatmore coach takes Trinity football job

Bob SuttonSportsBear Bradley, piedmont athletic conference, prep football, Trinity athletics

TRINITY – Bear Bradley is taking a job as a football head coach at a school in Randolph County. Even though it’s a different stop than in a previous role, he said it feels like a return to a comfort zone. Bradley has become the football coach at Trinity, leaving a similar position at Southern Guilford. “The more I got thinking about it, I think it was one of those things, I already had some of those relationships,” Bradley said. “To be back in Randolph County, and people you’ve known. There’s a family atmosphere and you’re welcomed.” Bradley spent four…

06 Apr

Mazzarone maintains rapid rate of strikeouts for Patriots

Bob SuttonSportsEmma Mazzarone, piedmont athletic conference, Prep softball, Providence Grove athletics, Virginia Tech

Emma Mazzarone of Providence Grove fires a pitch earlier this season. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Providence Grove senior pitcher holds dominating form CLIMAX – Emma Mazzarone doesn’t mind the workload that comes with being Providence Grove’s ace softball pitcher. She keeps on striking out batters at a staggering rate. “Before every game, I’ll try not to put a number in my head,” Mazzarone said of strikeout totals. “I try to pitch to certain batters to strike them out. And if they get a hit, more power to them. I’m really just focused on what I’m going to pitch to each and…

26 Mar

Piedmont Athletic Conference all-conference lists for winter sports

Randolph RecordSportsAldo Hernandez, Brecken Snotherly, Dominic Payne, Eastern Randolph athletics, Grayson Roberts, piedmont athletic conference, Prep Basketball, Prep swimming, prep wrestling

Eastern Randolph’s Brecken Snotherly goes up for a shot vs. Wheatmore during the past season. Snotherly was named the Player of the Year in Piedmont Athletic Conference girls’ basketball. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Here’s a list of the Piedmont Athletic Conference’s major award winners and all-conference selections for winter sports: Boys’ basketball Player of the Year: Dominic Payne (Trinity) Coach of the Year: Matt Kiser (Southwestern Randolph) All-Conference Eastern Randolph: Davonte Brooks, Timothy Brower, Pierce Leonard, Nicah Taylor Southwestern Randolph: Sean Adkins, Nathan Ellis, Thomas Leal, Landon Williamson. Trinity: Brandon Campbell, Dylan Hodges, Dominic Payne. Randleman: Tyshaun Goldston, Greg Price. Uwharrie Charter Academy: Ashton Troutman. Providence…

25 Mar

Randleman Tigers adopt new script, keep on winning in baseball

Bob SuttonSportsAdam Cole, Hunter Atkins, Jake Smith, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, Randleman baseball, Seth Way, Southwestern Randolph baseball

Randleman’s Hunter Atkins takes a swing during a game earlier this season at Eastern Randolph. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The script looks a bit different, but Randleman’s baseball team has kept the winning formula. The two-time reigning Class 2-A state champions are cranking out victories on a regular basis. “We’ve had some tough games that we’ve battled through,” shortstop Hunter Atkins said. “We’ve just been competing. It’s just about competing when it comes down to it. Our team has the grit.” And Randleman owns an 8-2 overall record. The Tigers have made it halfway through their 12-game Piedmont Athletic…

22 Mar

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Cade Hill

Randolph RecordSportsAOTW, athlete of the week, Cade Hill, high school baseball, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, prep sports, Uwharrie Charter Academy

Trinity, baseball Hill has helped Trinity to an unbeaten start in Piedmont Athletic Conference play through four games. In last week’s series-opening victory against Southwestern Randolph, the senior right-hander was the winning pitcher by working five innings and allowing one earned run in Trinity’s 16-6 romp. Hill also had a double in that game. The Bulldogs and defending champion Randleman were the only teams without a loss in league play through the first two weeks of the PAC season.

28 Feb

New-look Tigers keep lofty goals for baseball season

Bob SuttonSportsClass 2-A, Hunter Atkins, Jake Smith, nchsaa, piedmont athletic conference, Randleman athletics, Randleman baseball, Seth Way

Randleman coach Jake Smith receives a water bath courtesy of Riley Edwards after the Tigers won the 2022 state championship in Burlington. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Randleman’s baseball team embarks on another season of high expectations RANDLEMAN – Randleman has been at the top of the Class 2-A baseball world in the state for the past two years. Going into this season, the Tigers are going to look different. The goals haven’t changed. “It’s exciting for the kids, a lot of them waiting their turn,” coach Jake Smith said. “I think we’ve got a lot of guys who are excited about…

26 Feb

Shore likes set-up with UCA baseball

Bob SuttonSportsGrant Little, Old North State League, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, Rob Shore, Uwharrie Charter Academy

ASHEBORO – Rob Shore knows what it takes to be successful in high school baseball and he likes what he sees entering his first season as Uwharrie Charter Academy’s coach. Shore moved up to the top spot after one season as an assistant when Lee Kennell stepped down. “I’ve always liked the smaller school and smaller setting,” Shore said. Keeping track of Shore’s credentials is no simple task. He was an assistant coach for six years at Southwest Guilford before an 11-year run as Trinity’s coach. That was followed by four years at Ledford, where his 2018 team reached the…