Rob Shore

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…
Read More
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.…
Read More
Opinions vary on league baseball tourneys as PAC opts out this year

Opinions vary on league baseball tourneys as PAC opts out this year

The Providence Grove baseball team will be completing its regular season this week. (Randolph Record) There’s no Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament in baseball this year, something that would have taken place this week. Instead, teams are wrapping up their regular seasons. Opinions vary on the topic of whether to hold a tournament. The decision to nix the tournament was made prior to the school year. “It’s fun to have,” Trinity coach Ryan Spencer said. “We always got to have a couple extra games.” Teams can play up to 24 regular-season games, so a tournament provided opportunities, in some cases, for…
Read More
Eagles soar to state baseball crown with stellar pitching

Eagles soar to state baseball crown with stellar pitching

The UCA baseball team collected another state championship banner. (NCHSAA photo) HOLLY SPRINGS – Uwharrie Charter Academy’s baseball team won in different fashions in two games in the Class 1A state finals at Ting Stadium. But stellar pitching was one of the staples as the Eagles repeated as state champions. UCA pitcher Brett Smith kept Northside-Pinetown in check and the Eagles were boosted by Trey Kennedy’s go-ahead home run in a 6-1 victory Saturday afternoon against Northside-Pinetown, sweeping the best-of-3 series. While UCA (28-6) needed an extra inning in the series opener Friday night, the Eagles had a less adventurous…
Read More
UCA Eagles put down hammer in baseball regional final

UCA Eagles put down hammer in baseball regional final

UCA infielder Caleb Stickle makes a throw during a game earlier this spring. (Randolph Record file photo) Strong pitching carries team back to Class 1A state finals MOUNT AIRY – Uwharrie Charter Academy’s baseball team made a definitive statement in the winner-take-all game of the Class 1A West Region finals. The Eagles blasted Mount Airy 12-0 in Saturday night’s Game 3 of the best-of-3 finals to keep alive their hopes of repeating as state champions. Logun Wilkins pitched a shutout to continue the team’s dominating work from the mound. The Eagles allowed one run across the three games. “Our pitching…
Read More
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…
Read More
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…
Read More
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)…
Read More
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.…
Read More
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…
Read More