Ronnie Pugh - Randolph Record

15 Jun

Post 45 seeks good blend with returners, newcomers

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Jackson Hill, Liberty Post 81, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh

There’s a different mix in the Randolph County Post 45 dugout this year for American Legion baseball. (P.J. Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – There might be good pieces to the puzzle for Randolph County Post 45’s baseball team. It’s largely a new roster from a year ago, so manager Ronnie Pugh will see how it all comes together after seeing encouraging results during the first stretch of the season. There are players representing numerous high schools in the area and that’s the blend Post 45 will be counting on this summer. “We played against or with each other for…

05 Jun

Welcome aboard and welcome back: Willard, Brown boost Post 45 past Post 81

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Braxton Walker, Carter Brown, Eli Holland, Ethan Willard, Liberty Post 81, Nate Cockman, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh

Ethan Willard (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) RAMSEUR – Ethan Willard arrived to play with Randolph County Post 45 and Carter Brown is back with the American Legion team. That combination proved big for Post 45 in its first intra-county matchup of the season Wednesday night. Willard belted the game’s first pitch for a home run. After a walk to Jake Riddle, Brown smacked a two-run home run. Those were the key hits to go with six innings of pitching from Braxton Walker in a 5-2 victory against Liberty Post 81 at Eastern Randolph. Willard finished his high school career…

06 Aug

Pitching depth could be focus for Post 45 in regional

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Asheboro, Drew Harmon, McCrary Park, Post 45, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh, Southeast Regional

Drew Harmon throws a pitch for Randolph County Post 45 earlier this season in American Legion baseball. (Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Randolph County Post 45 needs pitching depth to challenge for the American Legion’s Southeast Regional title. Despite a regular season that didn’t pan out well, Post 45 enters this week with a chance to make things right as the host team at McCrary Park. In order to advance as far as Sunday’s title game, Randolph County will rely on pitching. That’s where Drew Harmon and others can make a difference. Harmon emerged as among the key pitchers this year.…

03 Aug

After long break, Post 45 set for Southeast Regional

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, McCrary Park, Post 45, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh, Southeast Regional

Randolph County Post 45’s Caleb Stickle passes manager Ronnie Pugh while on a home run trot during a game in June at McCrary Park. (Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The first part of the American Legion baseball season was too short for Randolph County Post 45. There’s still a chance for Post 45 to make it a long season. The team’s month-long layoff will end next week in the Southeast Regional at McCrary Park. As host, Post 45 has an automatic spot in the eight-team, double-elimination bracket. “We’ve had some times when we had a week to 10 days off, but…

02 Jul

Asheboro grad Adams deals with injury, but can still pitch for Post 45

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Connor Adams, Post 45, Post 81, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh

Connor Adams (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – The role for Connor Adams with Randolph County Post 45 is going to be different. After surgery for a wrist injury, he’ll be content with having a way to contribute. Adams, who’s in his third season with Post 45, has torn cartilage in his left wrist. That means he wasn’t able to bat when the American Legion season began, but he could still pitch. “That’s what I’m best at anyway – pitching,” Adams said. “I feel more comfortable pitching.” Adams completed his senior high school season for Asheboro in the spring,…

25 Jun

Stickle stays in groove with Randolph County Post 45

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Caleb Stickle, Grat Dalton, Liberty Post 81, Parker Kines, Post 45, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh, Trey Kennedy, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Caleb Stickle, who began the month helping Uwharrie Charter Academy win a state championship, is a key infielder for Randolph County Post 45. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Some of the tension might have lessened since the thrilling baseball postseason in high school for Caleb Stickle. But he said he doesn’t want his mindset to change with Randolph County Post 45. Fresh of Uwharrie Charter Academy’s second consecutive Class 1A state championship, he has graduated. Last week, he committed to play for Guilford Tech. “It was getting late,” he said of the desire to lock in a plan.…

18 Jun

American Legion baseball: Post 45 edges Post 81 again in intra-county clash

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Caleb Dunn, Liberty Post 81, Nate Cockman, Parker Kines, Pierce Leonard, Post 45, Post 81, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh

Post 45 pitcher Parker Kines (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Parker Kines wasn’t certain he would play American Legion baseball, but it has turned out to be a good thing for him and Randolph County Post 45 so far this season. Kines was on the mound for a strong start as Post 45 topped Liberty Post 81 for the second time in five nights, a 6-4 decision Monday night at McCrary Park. “I wasn’t planning on this,” he said of the summer activity. “But my coach (at Wheatmore) said it would be a good idea.” Kines, a rising…

29 May

Post 45 looking to fit parts together as season launches

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Austin Lemons, Braxton Walker, Carter Brown, Connor Adams, Drew Harmon, Grat Dalton, Jake Riddle, McCrary Park, Post 45, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh, Tanner Marsh

Manager Ronnie Pugh says that pitching could be strong for Randolph County Post 45. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) Young team to play for Randolph County ASHEBORO – It’s going to take time for Randolph County Post 45 to put it all together with a more youthful roster than in the past. But the group still intends to be one of the top American Legion baseball teams in the state. A week into the season, Post 45 split its first two outings. “We’re getting some things done,” manager Ronnie Pugh said. “All of the things we’re going to put in,…

12 Aug

Post 45 cherishes season’s successes, improvements

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Carter Brown, Hunter Atkins, Post 45, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh, Southeast Regional, Tyler Parks

Randolph County manager Ronnie Pugh, center, makes a mound visit in extra innings in the Southeast Regional to check on pitcher Hunter Atkins, right. Catcher Caleb Dunn looks on. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Hunter Atkins built a reputation largely as a hitter during high school for Randleman’s baseball team. But that’s far from his only attribute, something that was on display at times during the American Legion season for Randolph County Post 45. In what became the season finale, Atkins threw six innings of relief against eventual regional champion Florence (S.C.) Post 1. It came while he labored…

05 Aug

Post 45’s season ends with 11-inning loss in Southeast Regional

Bob SuttonSportsAmerican Legion baseball, Hunter Atkins, McCrary Park, Randolph County Post 45, Ronnie Pugh, Southeast Regional, Tanner Marsh, Tyler Parks

ASHEBORO – It took most of Saturday night before Randolph County Post 45 was dismissed from the Southeast Regional. The host team battled for 11 innings with Florence (S.C.) Post 1 before suffering a 5-4 loss at McCrary Park. “We’ve been playing all night,” Post 45 manager Ronnie Pugh said. “This was a classic. Our guys sucked it up and played.” Florence (29-5) is unbeaten in the double-elimination regional and will play Fuquay-Varina Post 116 (30-6) at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. If Fuquay-Varina wins, another winner-take-all game will follow. Post 45 ended the season with a 25-8 record, going 2-2 in…