Randolph County Post 45

Post 45 learns hard lessons as winning streak ends

Post 45 learns hard lessons as winning streak ends

Samuel Asbill of Randolph County Post 45 throws a pitch during a victory at Chatham County. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – A dose of reality during the past week might not be as bad as it looked for Randolph County Post 45. The American Legion baseball team had breezed through much of its schedule for the first month of the season. Then in a pair of Area 3 North Division games against High Point-Thomasville Post 87, things didn’t go its way. “Ego got too high,” catcher Grat Dalton said. “We beat everybody. We thought less of this team and should…
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Post 45 makes most of home action

Post 45 makes most of home action

Randolph County Post 45’s Grat Dalton reaches for the plate but is tagged out by Cleveland County Post 82 catcher Hagan Hoyle. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)   ASHEBORO – Randolph County Post 45 won all three games it completed in its first games this year at McCrary Park in Asheboro. The weekend victories against three different opponents pushed Post 45’s record to 14-1. With stadium renovations incomplete, the Randolph County team played road games or at Randleman High School in the first few weeks of the season. Then games early last week were rained out. The three-day event at McCrary Park…
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Post 45 churns out more victories

Post 45 churns out more victories

RANDLEMAN – A four-night stretch full of variety for Randolph County Post 45 also had a certain consistent component. The American Legion baseball team won each of its games last week. That included stiff non-league tests and its Area 3 Northern Division opener. Post 45 boosted its record to 11-1 entering this week. Then Monday night’s game at Greensboro was rained out. The showdown last week came with Rowan County Post 342, with Post 45 winning 4-3 on Friday night at Salisbury. Tanner Marsh provided a home run and a run-scoring double and Pierce Leonard scored two runs. Drew Harmon,…
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Returnees help Post 45 hit early groove

Returnees help Post 45 hit early groove

Pierce Leonard takes a swing for Randolph County Post 45. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Randolph County Post 45 has been off a strong start to the American Legion baseball season. The team has a good core of returning players who’ve produced across the first couple of weeks of the season. Post 45 had a 7-1 record – capped with a 5-4 victory at Davidson County last week – before a five-day break in the schedule. The team is slated to be back in action this week. The lone loss came by a 3-2 score at Rowan County. Twelve days later, Post…
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ZooKeepers, Post 45 wait on McCrary Park

ZooKeepers, Post 45 wait on McCrary Park

Randolph County Post 45 shortstop Tanner Marsh makes a tag at second base against Davidson County during an American Legion game last week in Randleman, where the team is playing home games temporarily. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The Asheboro ZooKeepers and Randolph County Post 45 baseball teams are playing relocated home games for perhaps a few more weeks as the latest renovation project at McCrary Park is keeping the park off limits to spectators. The ZooKeepers, a collegiate summer team, have reworked the early portion of their schedule and already have played road games. The team will play select…
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Marsh finds Liberty destination as Asheboro baseball prospects set futures

Marsh finds Liberty destination as Asheboro baseball prospects set futures

Asheboro shortstop Tanner Marsh makes a throw during the 2022 season. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Asheboro’s baseball prospects make various choices ASHEBORO – Tanner Marsh said he had lots of guidance when determining his best path in baseball after he leaves Asheboro High School. That ultimately led the versatile player to signing with Liberty during the fall signing period. “All of my brothers are in college playing baseball and I had good advice,” Marsh said. He also had extensive playing time in the summer, largely with Randolph County Post 45. He said manager Ronnie Pugh and the staff helped him boost…
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McCrary Park takes on another new look

McCrary Park takes on another new look

The grandstand has been flattened at McCrary Park as another phase of the renovation is in the works at the baseball park in Asheboro. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO — The grandstand is gone, and renovations are picking up again at McCrary Park. This latest development marks the latest phase in the upgrades for the baseball park. “It’s a lot of work to do,” said Ronnie Pugh, an owner of the Coastal Plain League’s Asheboro ZooKeepers. “It’s moving along, and it’s pretty exciting. It can’t happen soon enough.” For any past visitors, the sight of the grandstand no longer in place might…
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Post 45 could have core of roster back next year

Post 45 could have core of roster back next year

Alex Martinez, shown here batting for Randolph County Post 45 during the Southeast Regional earlier this month in Asheboro, could be among the team's returning players for 2023. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)   ASHEBORO – When the season ended for Randolph County Post 45 earlier this month, it was a downer. The team lost back-to-back games to be eliminated from the Southeast Regional in American Legion baseball in its home ballpark. Yet there might have been a ray of hope regarding the future that day at McCrary Park. “Only three of our 17 players are gone,” Randolph County manager Ronnie Pugh…
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Season fizzles on Post 45 in elimination loss

Season fizzles on Post 45 in elimination loss

Randolph County Post 45 team members go through their final postgame handshake line of the season Saturday at McCrary Park. ASHEBORO – This Randolph County Post 45 baseball team seemed built for big things. Too many big innings for opponents became the undoing for the host team in the American Legion’s Southeast Regional. “I definitely think we could have had a better season than this,” left fielder Adam Cole said. The end came with a 15-5 loss to Wilmington Post 10 in an elimination game Saturday at McCrary Park. The game was reduced to five innings by the mercy rule,…
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Problems pile up on Post 45 in first regional loss

Problems pile up on Post 45 in first regional loss

Randolph County Post 45 coaches Ryan Hill, left, Ronnie Pugh and Andrew Conner will need a plan to win three more games in the Southeast Regional. (File photo) Randolph County needs turnaround to extend season ASHEBORO -- It didn’t start well for Randolph County Post 45. Then it got worse Friday night. Yet if there’s a good omen for the host team in Southeast Regional for American Legion baseball, things are bound to get better this weekend. Or else the season will come to a disheartening conclusion. “It’s an eye-opener,” Post 45 catcher Alex Martinez said after the 12-7 loss…
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