Prep softball - Randolph Record

18 May

Prep softball: Shutouts send Southwestern Randolph Cougars to regional finals

Randolph RecordSportsclass 1-A, Class 2-A, nchsaa, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state playoffs, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

MILLERS CREEK – Southwestern Randolph’s softball team turned in shutouts on consecutive nights in the Class 2-A state playoffs and that has put the Cougars in the West Region finals. Pitcher Macie Crutchfield logged a pair of shutouts. Fourth-seeded Southwestern Randolph scored a seventh-inning run in Friday night’s 1-0 victory at top-seeded West Wilkes. Southwestern Randolph (19-6) plays in the best-of-3 regional finals for the first time in 14 years against second-seeded North Stanly (20-3-1) next week. North Stanly topped the Cougars 3-0 in a non-conference game March 13. Against West Wilkes, Madelyn Smith became the only Southwestern Randolph base…

15 May

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Mollie Bulla

Randolph RecordSportsAppalachian State, athlete of the week, Mollie Bulla, piedmont athletic conference, Prep softball, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

Uwharrie Charter Academy, softball Bulla has been a standout at the plate and from the pitching circle during her senior season for the Eagles. Bulla entered this week with a .391 batting average. Her six home runs and 10 doubles were team-high marks after also leading UCA in those categories last year. As a pitcher, Bulla has averaged nearly two strikeouts per inning this season. Last week, UCA won first- and second-round games – against Mitchell and Swain County – in the Class 1-A state playoffs, giving them 19 victories this season. That tied the program record for wins, a…

11 May

Two UCA teams plus Randleman in baseball, Cougars in softball move on in states

Randolph RecordSportsclass 1-A, Class 2-A, Class 3-A, nchsaa, Prep baseball, Prep softball, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state playoffs, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

Southwestern Randolph’s Alyssa Harris slides into the plate as Walkertown catcher Sadie Smith tries to make a play in a first-round game of the Class 2-A state playoffs for softball. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record) Two baseball teams and two softball teams from Randolph County made it through the first week of the state playoffs. Now it likely becomes more challenging for Randleman and Uwharrie Charter Academy in baseball and Southwestern Randolph and UCA in softball. In baseball, there was one team from the county guaranteed to advance to the third round when Randleman and visiting Wheatmore met in Friday night’s second-round…

06 May

UCA teams seeded high for state playoffs in baseball, softball; Most area teams to start on road

Bob SuttonSportsclass 1-A, Class 2-A, Class 3-A, Prep baseball, Prep softball, state playoffs

Uwharrie Charter Academy softball and baseball teams have high seeds in the West Region for the state playoffs. The seeds, which were announced Monday by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, have both teams in line to play in regional finals in a couple of weeks. But there’s plenty of work to be done by then. The playoffs begin Tuesday, with potential second-round games Thursday or Friday. *** BASEBALL *** In Class 1-A, defending state champion UCA (20-5) is seeded No. 2, with a home game vs. No. 31 Bradford Prep (3-13). Eastern Randolph (9-16), which was a regional…

03 May

Southwestern Randolph Cougars capture PAC Tournament in softball

Randolph RecordSportsMacie Crutchfield, Mollie Bulla, PAC Tournament, piedmont athletic conference, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Uwharrie Charter Academy

ASHEBORO – Southwestern Randolph pitcher Macie Crutchfield struck out 12 batters and the Cougars won a softball rubber match with host Uwharrie Charter Academy – and this outcome came with a bigger reward. The Cougars claimed the Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament championship with a 4-1 victory Thursday night. Southwestern Randolph took a 3-0 lead in the first inning and added a run in the sixth inning. Crutchfield drove in two runs, and Alyssa Harris and Hayleigh Thompson had run-scoring doubles. UCA (17-3-1) won the regular-season title by one game, topping the Cougars 4-3 a week earlier to break a first-place…

01 May

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Ayanna Mears

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Ayanna Mears, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Prep softball

Eastern Randolph, softball Mears has been an important part of the Wildcats’ lineup as the team has put together another winning record. Mears, a senior shortstop, has been among the leading hitters for Eastern Randolph. She’s in her fourth season with the team. Eastern Randolph won five of its last six games in the regular season heading into this week’s Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament. Mears, who’s also a past member of the volleyball and basketball programs at Eastern Randolph, has committed to play softball at North Carolina A&T.

26 Apr

Prep Roundup: UCA dethrones Cougars in softball; Plus, baseball, soccer, tennis results

Randolph RecordSportsEllie Garrison, Mid-Piedmont Conference, Mollie Bulla, piedmont athletic conference, prep athletics, Prep baseball, prep soccer, Prep softball, Prep tennis

ASHEBORO – Uwharrie Charter Academy scored two seven-inning runs to edge host Southwestern Randolph 4-3 in a game to determine the Piedmont Athletic Conference regular-season softball champion Thursday night. At 11-1 in PAC play, the Eagles finished a game ahead of defending champion Southwestern Randolph. It’s the school’s first PAC softball title. Aubrie Kauffman’s two-run bloop single provided the tying and go-ahead runs. UCA pitcher Mollie Bulla struck out 10 batters. Kenzie Hill and Jayla Hurley both scored two runs. Macie Crutchfield struck out eight for Southwestern Randolph. Earlier in the week, Bulla and Katelyn West blanked visiting Wheatmore 7-0.…

25 Apr

Baseball tourneys coming to Asheboro; Southwestern Randolph has coaching change

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro, McCrary Park, Mid-Piedmont Conference, NCISAA, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars

ASHEBORO – High school postseason baseball – and some softball – will be happening in Asheboro even if there’s not an in-county team involved. Next week, Asheboro will be the host school for next week’s semifinal and final rounds in the Mid-Piedmont Conference Tournament for both baseball and softball. Those matchups will come after quarterfinal games, which will definitely involve Asheboro, are contested at the site of the higher seeds. The baseball semifinals and final will be at McCrary Park. In baseball and softball, the Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament begins Monday with games at the highest seed. For baseball, Randleman…

22 Apr

Prep Roundup: PAC softball race tightens after upset

Randolph RecordSportsAddie Flinchum, Asheboro Blue Comets, Eastern Randolph Wildcats, Ellie Garrison, Macie Crutchfield, Natalie Bowman, Parker Kines, Prep baseball, prep soccer, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Taryn Waugh, UCA Eagles, Wheatmore Warriors

Anaeli Puente Garza cuts between Randleman’s Jocelyn Segovia, left, and Lacy Nelson during last week’s game. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Fourth-place Eastern Randolph muddled the Piedmont Athletic Conference softball race by defeating first-place Southwestern Randolph 4-1 last week with Addie Flinchum striking out seven in the road victory. Uwharrie Charter Academy closed within a half-game of Southwestern Randolph by week’s end. The teams will meet April 25 at Southwestern Randolph to end the regular season. UCA nipped host Eastern Randolph 5-4 behind Mollie Bulla’s pitching. Jayla Hurley and Aubrie Kauffman both doubled and scored a run. Earlier in the week UCA,…

14 Apr

Prep Roundup: Southwestern Randolph, UCA keep torrid softball paces; Wheatmore girls roll in soccer

Randolph RecordSportsAlyssa Harris, Ellie Garrison, Kinzie Ivey, Macie Crutchfield, Macy Allred, Mollie Bulla, prep soccer, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics, Wheatmore athletics

Asheboro’s Chloe Chanmaly looks to make a move on Oak Grove’s Kyrstin Varmer during last week’s girls’ soccer game. Oak Grove claimed a 1-0 home victory. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Southwestern Randolph’s softball team remained unbeaten in the Piedmont Athletic Conference by winning two league games to go with a non-conference triumph last week. The Cougars completed the week with a 9-0 beating of host Randleman, highlighted by Alyssa Harris’ grand slam. Winning pitcher Macie Crutchfield struck out 11 batters and added to the offense with two runs batted in. Madelyn Smith scored three runs. Southwestern Randolph’s 7-3 triumph at Providence…