Prep baseball

UCA stamps season as state champs

UCA stamps season as state champs

Coach Rob Shore, here during the Class 1-A state finals, directed Uwharrie Charter Academy to a state championship in his first season as head coach. (P.J. Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) HOLLY SPRINGS – Uwharrie Charter Academy’s baseball team looked the part of state champion. The Eagles kept their crisp play in place all the way through the Class 1-A state finals. UCA won the title for the second time in four seasons by sweeping North Moore in the best-of-3 series at Ting Stadium. Saturday’s clincher came in the form of an 8-1 victory with pitcher Brett Smith firing a five-hitter. He struck…
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UCA rides Hunter’s pitching, defense to Game 1 win in state finals

UCA rides Hunter’s pitching, defense to Game 1 win in state finals

Uwharrie Charter Academy first baseman Ben Medinger tags out North Moore’s Elliot Furr as part of a pick-off play during Game 1 of the Class 1-A state finals Friday. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) HOLLY SPRINGS – Freshman Jake Hunter threw a complete game as Uwharrie Charter Academy defeated North Moore 2-1 in the opening game of the Class 1-A state championship series Friday at Ting Stadium. Game 2 in the best-of-3 competition is at 11 a.m. Saturday, with a third game, if necessary, at 5 p.m. “Game 1 is really big,” Hunter said. “It’s hard to win two games in a…
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Eagles soar at right time: UCA set for state finals vs. North Moore

Eagles soar at right time: UCA set for state finals vs. North Moore

Ben Medinger has been a key hitter for Uwharrie Charter Academy's baseball team this year. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – It wasn’t all great for Uwharrie Charter Academy’s baseball team this season. But the Eagles have good timing. That’s why they still have games to play entering June. UCA will compete for a state championship. “We started out a little slow and we found a rhythm,” senior left fielder Peyton McCollum said. “We felt like we had the potential.” The Eagles (20-10) take on North Moore (22-8) in the best-of-3 Class 1-A state championship series beginning Friday at Ting Stadium…
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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Peyton McCollum

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Peyton McCollum

UCA, baseball McCollum is a senior outfielder for the Eagles, who’ll play this week in the Class 1-A state finals. He has been a key hitter during the state playoffs. In Game 1 of the West Regional finals vs. Eastern Randolph, McCollum provided two hits, scored a run and drove in a run. He also had two hits in the third-round game against North Stokes and the fourth-round game against Draughn. McCollum and first baseman Ben Medinger are the only seniors who’ve regularly been in the starting lineup this season for UCA.
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Eagles know site, but not foe for Class 1-A state finals

Eagles know site, but not foe for Class 1-A state finals

Uwharrie Charter Academy pitcher Brett Smith will be throwing off the Ting Stadium mound in Holly Springs in the Class 1-A state finals. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The baseball team from Uwharrie Charter Academy knows where it will play its Class 1-A state championship series. The Eagles will have to wait a little longer to learn their opponent. UCA (20-10) wrapped up the West Region title by winning Thursday night at Eastern Randolph to complete a two-game swept of the best-of-3 three regional finals. It’s not so clear in the East Region. North Moore (21-8) and Voyager Academy (22-6)…
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UCA Eagles sweep Eastern Randolph in regional finals

UCA Eagles sweep Eastern Randolph in regional finals

UCA team members gather after winning the Class 1-A West Region title. Clutch late-inning work boosts UCA’s baseball team RAMSEUR – It was pretty much a matter of Uwharrie Charter Academy’s baseball team making the best of tough situations Thursday night. By doing so, the Eagles are heading to where they want to go. UCA completed a Class 1-A West Regional finals sweep of Eastern Randolph by winning 8-1 in Game 2, scoring all their runs in the last two innings. “It still hasn’t sunk in,” UCA senior Ben Medinger said of the chance to play for a state title.…
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UCA, Eastern Randolph advance to Class 1-A showdown; Randleman’s reign ends in Class 2-A upset

UCA, Eastern Randolph advance to Class 1-A showdown; Randleman’s reign ends in Class 2-A upset

Coach Rob Shore has guided Uwharrie Charter Academy deep into the state playoffs in his first season in that role. (Randolph Record) There will be a Randolph County baseball team in the state finals. It won’t be Randleman. Either Uwharrie Charter Academy or Eastern Randolph will be in the Class 1-A state championship series in the first weekend of June. Those teams will meet in a best-of-3 West Regional final. Two-time defending Class 2-A state champion Randleman was bounced in Friday night’s fourth round by Eden Morehead. Here’s a recap of how it has shaken out: Class 1-A The only…
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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Samuel Asbill

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Samuel Asbill

Eastern Randolph, baseball Asbill gave a strong pitching performance in one of Eastern Randolph’s two road victories last week in the Class 1-A state playoffs. Asbill, a junior right-hander, was listed for throwing 103 pitches when the Wildcats defeated Mt. Airy. This marks the second year in a row that the Wildcats have secured two victories in the state playoffs. Before that, they hadn’t won a state-playoff game since 2013.
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Here’s Randolph County slate for third round in baseball, softball state playoffs

Here’s Randolph County slate for third round in baseball, softball state playoffs

 Uwharrie Charter Academy softball players greet Molly Bulla as she approaches the plate after hitting a home run during a Class 1-A game last week against Highland Tech. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record) Several area teams are in action Tuesday in the third round of the state playoffs in baseball and softball. Here’s a rundown: Baseball Class 2-A East Davidson (20-4) at Randleman (22-4) Class 1-A North Stokes (23-5) at Uwharrie Charter Academy (16-10) Eastern Randolph (6-17) at Highland Tech (13-12)   Softball Class 2-A Mount Pleasant (16-10) at Southwestern Randolph (21-1) Class 1-A East Wilkes (22-5) at Eastern Randolph (17-5) North…
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Randleman hits at another level in baseball playoff romps

Randleman hits at another level in baseball playoff romps

RANDLEMAN – As the Class 2-A state playoffs began, Randleman’s baseball team cranked it up a notch. The Tigers know what it takes this time of the year. “We’ve got to keep up the energy,” senior second baseman Shawn Miller said. “We all know we’re good enough to be on the field.” For the two-time defending state champions, the bats have awakened. With Friday night’s power display, it was reminiscent of a season ago – with mostly different guys taking the swings. “More of what I expected throughout the year,” coach Jake Smith said of the offense. “Hopefully, we’re hitting…
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