Post 81 - Randolph Record

02 Jul

Asheboro grad Adams deals with injury, but can still pitch for Post 45

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Connor Adams, Post 45, Post 81, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh

Connor Adams (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The role for Connor Adams with Randolph County Post 45 is going to be different. After surgery for a wrist injury, he’ll be content with having a way to contribute. Adams, who’s in his third season with Post 45, has torn cartilage in his left wrist. That means he wasn’t able to bat when the American Legion season began, but he could still pitch. “That’s what I’m best at anyway – pitching,” Adams said. “I feel more comfortable pitching.” Adams completed his senior high school season for Asheboro in the spring,…

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…

13 Jun

Results vary for American Legion teams as season heats up

Randolph RecordSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Jayten Beasley, Liberty Post 81, McCrary Park, Post 45, Post 81, Randolph County Post 45, Samuel Asbill

Post 45 and Post 81 are scheduled to meet twice across a five-night period ASHEBORO – There has been a sampling of results for Liberty Post 81 and Randolph County Post 45 through the first few weeks of the American Legion baseball series. It’s about to get serious for these teams with league play picking up after a layoff. Post 81 racked up a 9-3 record through last week. Randolph County checked in at 3-5, though its roster of available players had been limited because of the high school postseason. Randolph County and Liberty meet for the first time since…

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…

21 Jul

Progress defines Post 81’s bounce back

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Area 3 playoffs, Eastern Randolph Post 81, Luke Thomas, Post 81

Eastern Randolph Post 81 catcher Parker Evans tags out Stanly County’s Chance Hunt during an Area 3 playoff game. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Eastern Randolph rediscovers winning ways in breakthrough season RAMSEUR – Aside from the awkward ending, Eastern Randolph Post 81 put together a season that could set the foundation for the American Legion baseball program. That would make this year’s efforts well worth it for a team that had endured some tough times in recent seasons. “Our main goal was we wanted to bring life back to 81 baseball,” said first-year head coach Nate Cockman. Consider that accomplished. “It’s…

15 Jul

Post 45, Post 81 move on in Area 3 playoffs in different fashions

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Area 3 playoffs, Luke Thomas, Post 45, Post 81, Trey Way

Blake Marsh has been a factor for Randolph County Post 45 in the American Legion baseball playoffs. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Randolph County Post 45 and Eastern Randolph Post 81 took different paths to reach the Area 3 playoff semifinals for American Legion baseball. Both ways worked out. Post 45 rolled to 14-0 and 9-0 victories against Mooresville Post 66 in the best-of-3 quarterfinals. Post 81 lost its series opener against Stanley County, then recovered to win twice Thursday night to keep its season alive. Due to field availability issues in Asheboro, Game 1 was played at Mooresville, with Post 45…

11 Jul

Post 81 makes most of evolving roster

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Area 3 playoffs, Post 45, Post 81

Eastern Randolph Post 81's Anthony Lopossey throws a pitch during the series-clinching game in the first round of the Area 3 playoffs. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Forfeit costs Eastern Randolph in playoff pecking order RAMSEUR – Changing lineups have been part of the formula for the Eastern Randolph Post 81 baseball team. While that took a cruel twist at the end of the regular season, the team has no choice but to focus on what’s ahead with the American Legion Area 3 playoffs beginning. “Whoever is there, we’re going to go with,” head coach Nate Cockman said. “What happened in the…

28 Jun

American Legion teams hit strides in Randolph County

Randolph RecordSportsAmerican Legion baseball, McCrary Park, Post 45, Post 81

Carson Rickman of Eastern Randolph Post 81 scores a run last week against Greensboro. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) RAMSEUR – Eastern Randolph Post 81 had a recent nine-game winning streak in American Legion baseball. That string ended with a 5-4 loss last Friday at Greensboro. But Eastern Randolph was back on the winning mark Sunday night with a 4-2 win at Stanly County. TJ. McGraw’s two-run home run was the big hit in that game as the team improved its record to 13-7. In Asheboro, Randolph County Post 45 was the host for a multi-team event during the weekend at…

08 Jun

Post 81 takes satisfaction by topping county rival Post 45

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Craven Stadium, Post 45, Post 81, randolph county

Shortstop Nate Gardner played a key role for Post 81 in its victory against Randolph County Post 45. (PJ Ward-Brown/North State Journal file photo) RAMSEUR – It felt like an important game for Eastern Randolph Post 81 in the American Legion rematch with in-county rival Randolph County Post 45. The outcome seemed huge as well. “It’s big for Post 81 and Eastern Randolph district,” said center fielder Brody Gardner. “We don’t do it very often.” That’s because Post 81 pulled off a 15-6 victory Tuesday night at Craven Stadium. This was no sure-thing result. A nine-run outburst in the bottom…