Prep baseball

UCA baseball team heads back to state finals after sweeping Eastern Randolph

UCA baseball team heads back to state finals after sweeping Eastern Randolph

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Alex Carver is fired up after scoring in Game 1 of the Class 1A West Region finals. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) RAMSEUR – Uwharrie Charter Academy’s baseball team is back in the Class 1A state finals, seeking a third consecutive championship. The Eagles swept Eastern Randolph in the West Region’s best-of-3 finals, winning 12-1 in six innings in Thursday night’s Game 2 on the road. Two nights earlier, UCA won 2-1 in the series opener at home. The Eagles (18-11) have leaned on their experienced players, with several seniors in their final high school postseason. “You…
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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Alex Kivett

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Alex Kivett

Eastern Randolph, baseball Kivett has been one of the keys for an Eastern Randolph program that’s making his second appearance in the Class 1A West Regional finals in a three-year span. The senior shortstop is among a core of veteran players who’ve helped elevate the Wildcats at the right time. He’s in the middle of the field defensively for a team that, entering this week’s regional finals against Uwharrie Charter Academy, held its previous three opponents to a total of seven runs. Kivett has been a regular producer on offense, ranking high on the team in runs batted in and…
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Dates set for regional finals in baseball, softball (updated)

Dates set for regional finals in baseball, softball (updated)

Two-time defending state champion Uwharrie Charter Academy and Eastern Randolph will play in the Class 1A West Region baseball finals this week. The best-of-3 finals begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday at UCA (16-11) before shifting to Eastern Randolph (15-12-1) for Game 2 on Thursday night. Originally, Game 2 had been listed for Wednesday. If a third game is necessary, will be played Friday night at UCA. Softball Randleman (20-5) and West Wilkes (23-3) will play in the best-of-3 finals for the Class 2A West Region. It starts Tuesday at West Wilkes before Thursday night’s Game 2 at Randleman. Game 3…
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Burlington team wins state title in Asheboro

Burlington team wins state title in Asheboro

ASHEBORO – Burlington Christian Academy captured its first baseball state championship by sweeping the best-of-3 championship series in the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association’s Class 2-A finals at McCrary Park. The Royals defeated Freedom Christian Academy of Fayetteville 12-1 in Saturday’s Game 2. BCA (24-1) won 2-1 in eight innings on Cohen Payne’s winning single in Friday night’s series opener. Payne pitched five innings for the victory in Game 2, when FCA (22-7) gave up four first-inning runs and didn’t recover. The Royals also won two matchups between the teams during the regular season.
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UCA takes road back to regional baseball finals, will face Eastern Randolph next

UCA takes road back to regional baseball finals, will face Eastern Randolph next

Uwharrie Charter Academy baseball coach Rob Shore talks to his team before Friday night’s Class 1A game in the state playoffs at Cherryville. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) CHERRYVILLE – Uwharrie Charter Academy is back in another Class 1A West Region baseball finals and there’s a familiar tone. The opponent for this week’s best-of-3 finals is Eastern Randolph, a rival in the Piedmont Athletic Conference. Both teams won fourth-round road games Friday night to keep their seasons going. One of them will play in the state championship series later this month. “Our guys are resilient,” UCA coach Rob Shore said.…
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Asheboro will be the site of an NCISAA baseball state finals series

Asheboro will be the site of an NCISAA baseball state finals series

ASHEBORO — The North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association’s Class 2A state finals for baseball will be held in Asheboro. The best-of-3 finals between top-seeded Burlington Christian Academy (22-1) and second-seeded Freedom Christian Academy (22-5) are slated for Friday and Saturday at McCrary Park. Game 1 of the finals is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday. Game 2 is at 11 a.m. Saturday and, if necessary, Game 3 will follow. The finalists were determined in this week's semifinals. BCA defeated fifth-seeded Westchester Country Day School 11-1 in six innings Thursday in a twice-postponed semifinal that was moved to High Point's Truist Point, while FCA, which…
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Randleman keeps the faith, overcomes Trinity in state-playoff baseball thriller

Randleman keeps the faith, overcomes Trinity in state-playoff baseball thriller

Randleman’s Jackson Hill heads for the plate to score the winning run in the Tigers’ Class 2A state-playoff victory against Trinity. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO — Members of the Randleman baseball team were certain they’d figure out a way to win the third-round round game of the Class 2A state playoffs against Trinity. They just weren't quite sure how. “We always had faith that we were going to win the game,” infielder Tate Andrews said. “That helps us not let the pressure get to us.” The Tigers erased a two-run deficit and then went to the bottom of…
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Eastern Randolph hits hot spot at right time, advances to fourth round in baseball playoffs

Eastern Randolph hits hot spot at right time, advances to fourth round in baseball playoffs

Cade McCallum delivers a pitch during Tuesday’s game in the Class 1A state playoffs at McCrary Park. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record)   ASHEBORO — The timing is right for Eastern Randolph to be playing its best baseball of the season. The Wildcats won their third consecutive game in the Class 1A state playoffs with Tuesday’s 4-1 victory against Mountain Heritage at McCrary Park. “We’re getting hot at the right time and it’s a great time to do it,” said Cade McCallum, who pitched a five-hitter. The Wildcats (14-12-1), who are seeded No. 15 in the West Region, move to…
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UCA, E. Randolph, Randleman, Trinity advance in baseball; Cougars, Tigers, Eagles move on in softball

UCA, E. Randolph, Randleman, Trinity advance in baseball; Cougars, Tigers, Eagles move on in softball

Randleman's Jake Riddle made key contributions as the Tigers advanced through two rounds of the baseball state playoffs. (Randolph Record file photo) ASHEBORO — Two-time defending state champion Uwharrie Charter Academy pulled out a 3-2 baseball victory against 12th-seeded East Wilkes in the Class 1-A second round Friday. Brett Smith and Logun Wilkins combined to strike out 10 batters for the fifth-seeded Eagles, who travel to fourth-seeded North Stokes in the third round. UCA opened the playoffs with a 14-2 stomping of No. 28 seed Bessemer City. DJ Brandon, who drove in two runs, and Brody Eagle both supplied three…
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Prep baseball: UCA seeks another state championship; Randleman to open postseason vs. league foe

Prep baseball: UCA seeks another state championship; Randleman to open postseason vs. league foe

Infielder Landon Zephir and the UCA baseball team will try to produce another special postseason. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) Uwharrie Charter Academy’s bid to win a third consecutive state championship in Class 1A baseball will come as the No. 5 seed in the West Region. The pairings and brackets were revealed Monday in advance of Tuesday’s first-round games. UCA is set for a home game against No. 28 seed Bessemer City. If the Eagles win, they’ll be home again Friday night in the second round. Six other teams from Randolph County also are in the state playoffs. Eastern Randolph…
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