Southwestern Randolph Cougars - Randolph Record

09 Jun

Southwestern Randolph Cougars turn to Lagrama as baseball coach

Bob SuttonSportsEd Lagrama, Prep baseball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars

Ed Lagrama (Courtesy photo) ASHEBORO – Ed Lagrama filled in at the end of the recent season as Southwestern Randolph’s interim baseball coach. Now, he’ll be the coach moving forward. Lagrama is a former softball coach at Southwestern Randolph. His interim role came when the school sought a replacement for first-year coach Brian Gusa. The Cougars went 3-4 under Lagrama’s direction to complete a 9-15 season. Lagrama had a connection to the baseball team as an assistant coach under Tyler Clapp and also helped when Ethan Marsh led the program. So when principal Brian Hodgin called to ask him to…

06 Jun

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Macie Crutchfield

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Class 2-A, Macie Crutchfield, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, State championships

Southwestern Randolph, softball Crutchfield completed her junior season as the Most Valuable Player of the Class 2A state championship series. She pitched every inning in both games as the Cougars captured the title by sweeping Midway in games held at UNC Greensboro. In those 12 innings (because Game 1 was reduced to five innings by the mercy rule), she compiled 19 strikeouts and issued three walks. Crutchfield is a three-year starter for Southwestern Randolph, racking up high strikeout totals most of the time. She’s also has provided the team with boost at the plate. In the state finals, she had…

01 Jun

Good to the last play: Cougars claim state title with two runs on final pitch

Bob SuttonSportsClass 2-A, Kami Dunn, Macie Crutchfield, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, State championships, state playoffs, Toby Strider

Here’s the aftermath of the tying and winning runs scoring for Southwestern Randolph on the final play of the Class 2-A softball state championship series. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) GREENSBORO – Madelyn Smith’s dash from first base to home plate that sent Southwestern Randolph’s softball team to a Class 2A state championship came amid chaos on the final play of the season. It created more mayhem in terms of a celebration for the Cougars, who won the program’s first title in 14 years. “We have this saying, ‘Why not us?’ ” said third baseman Kami Dunn, who took that…

31 May

Southwestern Randolph in softball, UCA in baseball close in on state titles

Randolph RecordSportsCarter Brown, class 1-A, Class 2-A, Macie Crutchfield, nchsaa, Prep baseball, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state playoffs, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Southwestern Randolph’s softball team and Uwharrie Charter Academy’s baseball team are both one victory away from state championships after winning Friday night in drastically different manners. Southwestern Randolph opened the Class 2-A state finals with a 13-0 blasting of Midway at UNC Greensboro. The game was reduced to five innings because of the mercy rule. The Cougars (22-7) go for their first title in 14 years with Game 2 at 2 p.m. Saturday. If necessary, Game 3 will be held at 5 p.m. or 8 p.m., depending on the status of the Class 4-A finals also taking place on the…

27 May

Southwestern Randolph to play state softball finals at UNCG; In baseball, UCA goes back to same site as last year

Bob SuttonSportsclass 1-A, Class 2-A, nchsaa, Prep baseball, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, Uwharrie Charter Academy Eagles

Southwestern Randolph’s softball team will have to go just one county away to play in the Class 2A state finals this week. The Cougars will take on Midway in the best-of-3 series at UNC Greensboro. The Class 4A series between Garner and Weddington also will be at UNCG. In Class 2A, Game 1 will be at 8 p.m. Friday followed by Game 2 at 2 p.m. Saturday. If a third game is necessary, it’s tentatively set for 8 pm.. Saturday, though it will move to the 5 p.m. slot if a third game isn’t needed in Class 4A. The other…

25 May

Southwestern Randolph Cougars advance to state finals after tense regionals in softball

Randolph RecordSportsAlyssa Harris, Class 2-A, Macie Crutchfield, Madelyn Smith, North Stanly, Prep softball, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state playoffs, Toby Strider

Southwestern Randolph's Maddie Strider prepares to bunt in a state-playoff game against Walkertown earlier this month. (Scott Pelkey / Randolph Record) Southwestern Randolph aims for first state title in 14 years NEW LONDON – Southwestern Randolph’s softball team made enough clutch plays in the Class 2-A West Region finals that was full of tense moments. The Cougars earned a spot in the state championship series by defeating host North Stanly 2-0 on Friday night in the decisive Game 3 behind pitcher Macie Crutchfield’s five-hitter. That means that the Cougars (21-7) have more games to play under first-year coach Toby Strider…

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…

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…

10 May

Wheatmore, UCA girls hold best seeds from area for soccer playoffs

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Blue Comets, class 1-A, Class 2-A, Class 3-A, piedmont athletic conference, prep soccer, Providence Grove athletics, Randleman Tigers, Southwestern Randolph Cougars, state playoffs, Trinity Bulldogs, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics, Wheatmore athletics

Randleman’s Carolina Candelero, left, and Providence Grove’s Taryn Waugh contend for possession during a game last month. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Wheatmore has a challenging path to try to reach the Class 2-A state final for the third year in a row in girls’ soccer. The Warriors hold the No. 6 seed in the West Region based on seeds and pairings unveiled Friday. First-round games are Monday. Wheatmore, which was the 2022 state champion and last year’s runner-up, opens against No. 27 seed Lincoln Charter (4-10-2). The Warriors will be guaranteed another home game if they win. Wheatmore lost a Piedmont…

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…