Prep baseball - Randolph Record

15 May

Randleman hits at another level in baseball playoff romps

Bob SuttonSportsAustin Lemons, Caleb Dunn, Class 2-A, Forbush, Hunter Atkins, Jake Smith, nchsaa, Prep baseball, Randleman baseball, Seth Way

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…

14 May

Prep baseball: Eastern Randolph, UCA slide through first week of state playoffs

Randolph RecordSportsAdam Cole, Andrew Thomas, Ben Medinger, Cohen Caviness, Eastern Randolph baseball, Eli Gravely, nchsaa, Prep baseball, Tanner Marsh, UCA, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

Jake Hunter’s pitching has given Uwharrie Charter Academy a boost. (Randolph Record) Eastern Randolph and Uwharrie Charter Academy took different paths to the third round of the Class 1-A state playoffs in baseball. Each team won twice in the first week of the state playoffs. No. 21 seed Eastern Randolph (6-17) won two road games, beginning with a 9-5 ousting of No. 12 seed Mount Airy. Then the Wildcats went to No. 5 seed Hayesville, where Friday night’s game was suspended in the fifth inning. Eastern Randolph ended up with a 5-2 victory when the game concluded Saturday. Eastern Randolph…

09 May

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Davis Gore

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, athlete of the week, Davis Gore, Prep baseball

Asheboro, baseball Gore has been a steady performer for the Blue Comets on the baseball field this spring. He shares the team lead with six home runs, and he’s second among the Blue Comets with 18 runs scored. Gore is a catcher and utility player heading to Belmont Abbey for college. Asheboro won four of its last five games entering the Class 3-A state playoffs this week. Gore also played football for the Blue Comets.

08 May

Area teams hold No. 2 seeds for state playoffs in baseball, softball

Randolph RecordSportsnchsaa, Prep baseball, Prep softball, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Uwharrie Charter Academy

Caleb Stickle and the Uwharrie Charter Academy baseball team are diving into the state playoffs this week. (P.J. Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Baseball teams from Randleman and Uwharrie Charter Academy and the Southwestern Randolph softball team all landed No. 2 seeds in the West Region for the state playoffs. Brackets were unveiled Monday. Play begins Tuesday. Teams that advance will be slated to play second-round games Friday. Here’s a look where Randolph County teams were seeded: Baseball Randleman (20-4) welcomes No. 31 seed Reidsville (11-14) for the first round in Class 2-A. A victory would mean that No. 15 Forbush (20-7) or…

04 May

Lemons sours Trinity in eventful PAC Tournament final for Randleman’s baseball team

Bob SuttonSportsAustin Lemons, Drake Purvis, Hunter Atkins, nchsaa, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, Randleman baseball, Seth Way, Trinity athletics

Randleman’s Austin Lemons had a big night on the mound and at the plate in the PAC Tournament final. (Bob Sutton/Randolph Record) RANDLEMAN – There was so much going on with Randleman’s baseball team in the Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament final. Everything from Drake Purvis making his much-anticipated season debut to the Tigers racking up their 20th victory of the year. Yet pretty much nothing could overshadow Austin Lemons. The senior who mostly waited in the wings behind a stacked roster from a year ago emerged as the pitching and hitting standout in Randleman’s 4-0 victory against visiting Trinity on…

03 May

Tigers take different route, end up in PAC final

Bob SuttonSportsChesney Welch, Jake Smith, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, Providence Grove athletics, Randleman athletics, Randleman baseball, Seth Way

One strike away from a tournament exit, Randleman overcomes Providence Grove RANDLEMAN – Randleman’s baseball team hadn’t been in many of these situations in recent years. Trailing by two runs and down to their final strike, the Tigers’ stranglehold on the Piedmont Athletic Conference was in jeopardy Tuesday night. Providence Grove was on the cusp of pulling off an upset in the PAC Tournament semifinal. “I haven’t been in that many situations like that.” Randleman junior Seth Way said. “Do what you have to do to win the game.” So he did. Down 0-2 in the count with runners on…

03 May

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Andrew Canter

Randolph RecordSportsAndrew Canter, athlete, athlete of the week, local sports, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, prep sports, Providence Grove

Providence Grove, baseball Canter has been a key hitter and has supplied a huge boost on the mound for Providence Grove in his senior season. Canter, who also played football at the school, rolled up four pitching victories in the regular season. The Patriots bounced back following a rare losing season to hold a 13-9 mark at the end of the regular season. As a quarterback in his final season in football, he tossed 10 touchdown passes and threw for more than 1,000 yards.

01 May

Prep Roundup: Cougars complete perfect PAC softball regular season

Randolph RecordSportsPrep baseball, prep soccer, Prep softball, Prep tennis, Randleman athletics, Southwestern Randolph Cougars

Providence Grove’s Devon Kelly dives across the plate in front of Randleman’s Sarah Norton during last week’s Piedmont Athletic Conference softball game at Climax. Providence Grove won 4-0. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Southwestern Randolph won its only softball game of the week but that meant a perfect regular season in Piedmont Athletic Conference play. Maddie Strider hit a two-run homer as the Cougars topped host Uwharrie Carter Academy 13-1. Southwestern Randolph (17-1 overall, 12-0 PAC) is the top seed for this week’s conference tournament. ** Eastern Randolph won 6-1 against visiting Providence Grove with winning Addie Flinchum homering. From the circle,…

24 Apr

Prep Roundup: Randleman claims PAC baseball crown

Randolph RecordSportsAndrew Canter, Ben Medinger, Cade Hill, Ellie Garrison, Emma Mazzarone, Macie Crutchfield, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, prep soccer, Prep softball, Randleman baseball, Seth Way, Summer Bowman

Eastern Randolph’s softball team has had lots to cheer about this season despite last week’s loss to Southwestern Randolph. (File photo) RANDLEMAN – Randleman avenged a loss from three nights earlier to defeat visiting Trinity 6-1 on Friday night and secure another Piedmont Athletic Conference baseball championship. The Tigers (17-4 overall, 10-2 PAC) won their regular-season home finale. They’ll be the top seed for the conference tournament as a prelude to their bid for a third consecutive Class 2-A state championship. Second-place Trinity won 3-2 earlier last week behind Cade Hill’s complete-game pitching and Landon Mowery’s home run. The Bulldogs…

19 Apr

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Ben Medinger

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Ben Medinger, high school sports, Prep baseball, prep sports, student athlete, Uwharrie Charter Academy

Uwharrie Charter Academy, baseball Medinger has been a steady performer for the Eagles, and he’s one of the core veterans on the team. UCA went 3-0 last week, including winning a pair of tight Piedmont Athletic Conference matchups with Eastern Randolph. Medinger scored a run in the team’s 3-0 decision against Eastern Randolph. Medinger, a senior utility player, is among the top UCA players in on-base percentage and run production. He was one of two UCA selections for the All-PAC team in 2022. Entering this week with an 8-9 record, the Eagles are within two victories of matching last year’s…