summer college baseball - Randolph Record

16 Jun

Time with ZooKeepers can be period of transition for transfers

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, Rylen Stockton, summer college baseball, transfer portal

Rylen Stockton (ZooKeepers photo) ASHEBORO — When Rylen Stockton signed up to play this summer for the Asheboro ZooKeepers, he was a member of UNC Asheville’s baseball team. Yet a couple of weeks ago when it was his turn to go to the plate for the ZooKeepers, the introduction said he plays for Maryland. That’s part of the evolving nature of collegiate summer baseball. “I just committed to Maryland a few days ago,” Stockton said June 3. So after one season with UNC Asheville, the catcher from Sarasota, Florida, will be heading elsewhere in August when he reports for his…

09 Jun

ZooKeepers ride early wave as team builds

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, Davis Germann, Korey Dunbar, summer college baseball

Boaz Harper, who plays collegiately for North Carolina, takes a swing during a game for the Asheboro ZooKeepers last week. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO — The Asheboro ZooKeepers have excelled in several areas early in the season and the team is still coming together. Third-year coach Korey Dunbar said the opening stretch of the season has been encouraging. Through Sunday, the ZooKeepers held a 6-2 record in the Coastal Plain League. “Trying to coach these guys up on a daily basis,” Dunbar said. “It all boils down to these guys doing the work. They’re all in and they…

03 Jun

Germann’s homers provide boosts in ZooKeepers’ opening week

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, Davis Germann, McCrary Park, summer college baseball

Davis Germann (ZooKeepers photo) ASHEBORO — Davis Germann made a big impression in the first home game of the season for the Asheboro ZooKeepers by belting three home runs. The power displayed provided highlights as the ZooKeepers won back-to-back games following a season-opening loss as the Coastal Plain League baseball season began last week. Germann’s three-homer game came in an 11-1, seven-inning victory against the High Point-Thomasville HiToms on Friday night at McCrary Park. The right fielder out of Morehead State finished with seven runs batted in. He set the tone with a two-out grand slam in the first inning…

29 May

UCA coach takes role with college summer team … but state finals are priority

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, High Point-Thomasville HiToms, McCrary Park, summer college baseball

Coach Rob Shore has more time left with the Uwharrie Charter Academy baseball team this season before turning his attention to a new summer league role with the High Point-Thomasville HiToms in the Coastal Plain League. (PJ Ward-Brown / Randolph Record) ASHEBORO — Uwharrie Charter Academy baseball coach Rob Shore added another summer gig and that will have him in Randolph County for some games. Shore has taken the job as head coach of the High Point-Thomasville HiToms of the Coastal Plain League, a collegiate summer circuit. But first, he has the business of guiding UCA into the Class 1A state…

27 May

ZooKeepers set to embark on another season

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, Hunter Atkins, Korey Dunbar, McCrary Park, summer college baseball

ASHEBORO — The Asheboro ZooKeepers begin another baseball season this week, with the home opener set for Friday night at McCrary Park. Third-year coach Korey Dunbar will direct the ZooKeepers, who finished their 2024 season with seven consecutive victories. There’s scheduled free admission as part of what the ZooKeepers, a summer collegiate team, are labeling a fanfest for an exhibition game against Randolph County Post 45 on Tuesday night. Asheboro plays its first Coastal Plain League game Thursday night against the host Holly Springs Salamanders. Friday’s home game is against the High Point-Thomasville HiToms. Game times are set for 6:30…

27 Mar

ZooKeepers seek host families for upcoming baseball season

Randolph RecordSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, McCrary Park, summer college baseball

ASHEBORO — The Asheboro ZooKeepers, a summer collegiate baseball team, are seeking host families for the upcoming season. The club is looking for places to house players and interns for the season, which generally runs from late May through late July or early August. The team touts the valuable role that host families can provide while allowing the summer visitors to excel. “Support enables players to focus on their games and practice, while interns can dedicate their time to supporting the team’s operations,” the team says. “… You’ll be making a positive impact on their experience and contributing to the…

04 Aug

Former Randleman pitcher Cooper opts for another year at Liberty

Bob SuttonSportsAppalachian League, Burlington Sock Puppets, College baseball, Liberty Flames, Randleman athletics, Randleman baseball, summer college baseball, Trey Cooper

Trey Cooper (Bob Sutton / Randolph Record) BURLINGTON – Even during a summer of baseball uncertainty for pitcher Trey Cooper, he was focused on development. The former Randleman pitcher wants to be a starting pitcher again. “Trying to get back in the starting routine,” Cooper said. Cooper has one season of college eligibility remaining and he entered the transfer portal after his second season at Liberty. It turns out, he’s staying with the Flames. For the second time in three years, he was pitching with the Burlington Sock Puppets, a collegiate summer team in the Appalachian League. Cooper said he…

31 Jul

Asheboro ZooKeepers end season with flourish

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, Hunter Atkins, Korey Dunbar, McCrary Park, summer college baseball

Nick Capozzi of the Asheboro ZooKeepers takes a swing. (Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – At the beginning of the final week of the Coastal Plain League baseball season, the Asheboro ZooKeepers rallied from a four-run deficit and used a bunch of late-game dramatics to pull out a victory. Perhaps it was a fitting scenario for the team, which showed resiliency on that night at McCrary Park and for the rest of the week. “Big wins, it feels nice,” said outfielder Owen Blackledge. “Baseball is a whole lot more fun when you’re winning.” Blackledge smashed a seventh-inning grand slam in that uprising…

23 Jul

Former standout McPeak holds Asheboro ZooKeepers coaching role

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, Lenoir-Rhyne, summer college baseball, Tyler McPeak

Tyler McPeak (Photo courtesy of Asheboro ZooKeepers) Ex-teammates view Tyler McPeak in a different capacity ASHEBORO – Tyler McPeak found so much to appreciate about the Asheboro ZooKeepers that he came back for another season. But he’s a coach now instead of one of the best players. McPeak is making the transition during the Coastal Plain League season after finishing his final collegiate season in the spring for Lenoir-Rhyne. “I was fortunate to play for Coach (Korey) Dunbar last summer,” McPeak said. “I figured I’d give coaching a shot.” McPeak was second-team All-South Atlantic Conference first baseman for Lenoir-Ryne this…

17 Jul

Clemson pitcher embraces Asheboro mound time with ZooKeepers

Bob SuttonSportsAsheboro Zookeepers, Clemson Tigers, Coastal Plain League, College baseball, Noah Samol, summer college baseball

Noah Samol (Courtesy photo) ASHEBORO – Noah Samol still holds big aspirations as a college pitcher, and he came to Asheboro this summer to help get those on track. Samol is a Clemson pitcher who has taken the mound for the Asheboro ZooKeepers in the Coastal Plain League. “Glad to be out here,” Samol said. “You just got to go somewhere and just pitch.” It has been far from a simple path to this point. The start-and-stop nature of Samol’s baseball experiences began several years ago. He had Tommy John surgery as a high school sophomore in Mason, Ohio. He…