Tyler Parks

Post 45 cherishes season’s successes, improvements

Post 45 cherishes season’s successes, improvements

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

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

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…
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Post 45 blasts off, keeps season going in Southeast Regional

Post 45 blasts off, keeps season going in Southeast Regional

Hunter Atkins, above, and several of his Randolph County Post 45 teammates had strong offensive games in Friday's Southeast Regional game. (Randolph Record file photo) ASHEBORO – Hunter Atkins drove in three runs and six of his Randolph County Post 45 teammates racked up two runs batted in a 17-1 whipping of Owensboro (Ky.) Post 9 in Friday afternoon’s elimination game of the Southeast Regional at McCrary Park. The American Legion baseball game ended after five innings. Post 45 (25-7) scored in every inning, including seven runs in the top of the fifth. For the second year in a row,…
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Returnees help Post 45 hit early groove

Returnees help Post 45 hit early groove

Pierce Leonard takes a swing for Randolph County Post 45. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Randolph County Post 45 has been off a strong start to the American Legion baseball season. The team has a good core of returning players who’ve produced across the first couple of weeks of the season. Post 45 had a 7-1 record – capped with a 5-4 victory at Davidson County last week – before a five-day break in the schedule. The team is slated to be back in action this week. The lone loss came by a 3-2 score at Rowan County. Twelve days later, Post…
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Parks keeps producing for Cougars in baseball

Parks keeps producing for Cougars in baseball

Tyler Parks of Southwestern Randolph makes a throw in the field earlier this season. (Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – Tyler Parks is trying to make the most of his final games in high school baseball. The Southwestern Randolph senior has quite a bit ahead of him, but there are immediate matters that are important for now. “I just try to live in the moment and enjoy high school and not really think ahead,” Parks said. “I’m trying to just have as much fun as I can right now. Hopefully, we can get to win some games and that will be a…
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Prep Roundup: Homers highlight baseball action; Cougars stay unbeaten in softball

Prep Roundup: Homers highlight baseball action; Cougars stay unbeaten in softball

Wheatmore’s Summer Bowman, shown here during the 2022 postseason, continues to be a force on the school’s girls’ soccer team. (Randolph Record file photo) Home runs proved big for several Randolph County baseball teams last week. Austin Lemons homered in Randleman’s 11-6 home victory against Uwharrie Charter Academy in the Piedmont Athletic Conference. Troy Carver homered for UCA. In the rematch, Lemons struck out 14 in a complete game as the Tigers won 5-0 on the road. Caleb Dunn supplied three hits and John Kirkpatrick drove in two runs. In between those games, Dunn homered in Randleman’s 5-2 home victory…
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New Eastern Randolph baseball coach holds ties in region

New Eastern Randolph baseball coach holds ties in region

RAMSEUR – Brent Haynes figured that he would land a job as a head coach for a baseball team when the right opportunity came around. Eastern Randolph athletics director Foster Cates had the same thing in mind for Haynes. So this week, Haynes begins his first season as coach of the Wildcats. “I’m pumped up. I’ve always wanted to have my own program,” Haynes said. “To have the opportunity present itself is pretty exciting for me.” Eastern Randolph was in need of a coach last summer after Mitchell Frazier stepped away. “I had been telling (Haynes) that when we had…
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Post 45 could have core of roster back next year

Post 45 could have core of roster back next year

Alex Martinez, shown here batting for Randolph County Post 45 during the Southeast Regional earlier this month in Asheboro, could be among the team's returning players for 2023. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)   ASHEBORO – When the season ended for Randolph County Post 45 earlier this month, it was a downer. The team lost back-to-back games to be eliminated from the Southeast Regional in American Legion baseball in its home ballpark. Yet there might have been a ray of hope regarding the future that day at McCrary Park. “Only three of our 17 players are gone,” Randolph County manager Ronnie Pugh…
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Post 45 fades away in state tournament

Post 45 fades away in state tournament

Third baseman Tyler Parks of Randolph County Post 45 makes a catch on a popup during the first day of the American Legion state tournament. Shortstop Tanner Marsh, right, and left fielder Adam Cole, back, also pursue the play. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Randolph County’s season will continue in Southeast Regional on home field BUIES CREEK – It started swell and ended with a thud for Randolph County Post 45 in the American Legion baseball state tournament this week. Post 45 was the lone undefeated team in the eight-team tournament through the first two days. By the time the first semifinal…
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Right on time: Post 45 hits stride

Right on time: Post 45 hits stride

Tanner Marsh has been a key factor as a shortstop and pitcher for Randolph County Post 45. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) Randolph County roars into postseason on hot streak ASHEBORO — It took a little time for Randolph County Post 45 to figure it out. The timing, though, is ideal. The American Legion baseball team has been riding a hot streak that began with the second part of the regular season and has extended into the postseason. “We’re coming together as a team and understanding how to play with each other,” outfielder Adam Cole said. That tends to be the sentiment.…
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