state playoffs - Randolph Record

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…

23 May

Formula works for Faith Christian girls’ soccer program’s first state title

Bob SuttonSportsFaith Christian, North Carolina Christian School Association, prep soccer, state playoffs

Faith Christian’s Caroline Scarlett, left, Karrie Gaines, center, and Kyle Gaines celebrate during the state semifinals. (Courtesy photo) Eagles finally break through for elusive crown RAMSEUR – Faith Christian won a state championship in girls’ soccer for the first time in school history earlier this month. It didn’t occur by accident. “We knew we had the people if everybody did what they were supposed to do and everybody stayed healthy,” Eagles coach Brian Gaines said. Faith Christian topped host Wilson Christian 4-1 in the championship game of the North Carolina Christian School Association’s Class 2-A state tournament. It marked the…

22 May

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Lucy Lockwood

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Lucy Lockwood, prep soccer, state playoffs, Wheatmore athletics, Wheatmore Warriors

Wheatmore, girls’ soccer Lockwood, a goalkeeper, has recorded three consecutive shutouts in the Class 2-A state playoffs. That makes her Wheatmore’s all-time leader in shutouts for girls’ soccer. Her 25th career shutout tied the record last week against Mount Pleasant in the second round and she moved into the sole spot on the list with another blanking Monday night against Wilkes Central in the third round. Lockwood is in her second season with the soccer team. Victoria Lowe, who was the goalkeeper for the 2022 state championship team, had set the school record. Lockwood, a senior, is planning to play…

19 May

Prep soccer: Wheatmore’s Garrison puts on show in potential final home game

Bob SuttonSportsClass 2-A, Ellie Garrison, Natalie Bowman, nchsaa, prep soccer, Rick Massey, state playoffs, Wheatmore Warriors

Members of Wheatmore's girls' soccer team pose for a photo after winning a second-round game in the Class 2-A state playoffs. (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) TRINITY – Ellie Garrison has scored more high school goals than any other player in North Carolina girls’ soccer history, so the second-round game of the Class 2-A state playoffs had fitting elements. It might have been Garrison’s final game on Wheatmore’s field, and she sure made the most of it. Garrison scored five times as the Warriors breezed past Mount Pleasant 9-0 on Thursday night. “It’s a very important game and it just…

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…

17 May

Prep Baseball: UCA survives in 8 innings, advances to West Region finals

Randolph RecordSportsclass 1-A, nchsaa, Prep baseball, Randleman athletics, state playoffs, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

ASHEBORO – Defending Class 1-A state champion Uwharrie Charter Academy was on the verge of elimination before scoring in three straight innings Friday night to survive. The Eagles pulled out a 4-3, eight-inning victory against visiting Christ the King in the fourth round of the state playoffs. That puts second-seeded UCA (24-5) back in the best-of-3 West Region finals against top-seeded Mount Airy, which edged visiting Cherryville 4-2 on Friday night. Jose Ramirez drove in the winning run in the eighth inning. The Eagles trailed 3-1 before plating a run in the sixth and then benefitting from a seventh-inning error…

12 May

Perfect game marks history for Faith Christian baseball team

Bob SuttonSportsFaith Christian, Mason Taylor, North Carolina Christian School Association, Prep baseball, state playoffs

Faith Christian pitcher Mason Taylor cranked out a perfect game during the state playoffs. (Photo courtesy Faith Christian) RAMSEUR – Mason Taylor made history for Faith Christian’s baseball team by throwing a perfect game. It marked the first such accomplishment in the 60-year history of the school, headmaster Todd Daniel said. For Taylor, a freshman right-hander, it came in the quarterfinals of the North Carolina Christian School Association state playoffs Tuesday. “I feel I’ve definitely improved,” Taylor said. He struck out 12 of 15 Southside Christian batters in the 10-0 home victory. The game ended when the Eagles scored four…

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…

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…