Perdue had hits in all three of the Cougars’ games last week.
Southwestern Randolph is rated as one of the top Class 2-A teams in the state. Already having secured the Piedmont Athletic Conference title, the Cougars will be aiming for postseason success beginning next week.
Perdue, a senior, has provided boosts throughout the season. She scored a run in each of the team’s victories in PAC games last week.
For the season, she entered this week among the Southwestern Randolph leaders in batting average (.358), on-base percentage (.433), runs (17), stolen bases (12) and doubles (3) in the first 17 games.
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 whole lot more fun for me.”
Parks, an infielder, is a North Carolina signee, so Division I baseball is in his future.
“He’s relaxed,” Southwestern Randolph coach Ethan Parks said. “He’s not worried about being the Carolina guy.”
Parks, who also has played for Randolph County Post 45 on the American Legion level, said he knows his status might gain him extra attention from opposing pitchers. He tries to stick with what works for him.
“The more I see pitching, the better I feel at the plate,” he said. “My pitch selection, going up there and finding the best pitch to hit, not wasting that pitch. It’s not settling for something I don’t really want to hit.”
Southwestern Randolph senior Tyler Parks (Bob Sutton/Randolph Record)
Parks’ numbers look good going toward the final stretch of the season, with a .434 batting average and team-best marks in on-base percentage (.565) and runs batted in (22). He has homered twice, belted five doubles, scored 20 runs and recorded 11 stolen bases.
“He has been consistent,” Marsh said.
That has come with holding a key spot in the heart of the team’s lineup.
“I see a lot of off-speed. That’s normal. That’s going to happen,” Parks said. “It’s a little different. Sometimes it’s tough.”
Parks has played shortstop and occasionally been a pitcher for Southwestern Randolph. On past summer teams, he usually played as a third baseman, second baseman or outfielder.
The Cougars entered the final week of the regular season with a 9-10 overall record. A four-game winning streak ended with last week’s 9-1 non-conference home loss to state power Orange.
“I think we’ve just got to find a way to put it together,” Parks said. “We’ve got a lot of young guys in the mix. Find a way to play clean defense and put the bats together and get it all rolling.”
Eastern Randolph’s softball team has had lots to cheer about this season despite last week’s loss to Southwestern Randolph. (File photo)
RANDLEMAN – Randleman avenged a loss from three nights earlier to defeat visiting Trinity 6-1 on Friday night and secure another Piedmont Athletic Conference baseball championship.
The Tigers (17-4 overall, 10-2 PAC) won their regular-season home finale. They’ll be the top seed for the conference tournament as a prelude to their bid for a third consecutive Class 2-A state championship.
Second-place Trinity won 3-2 earlier last week behind Cade Hill’s complete-game pitching and Landon Mowery’s home run. The Bulldogs went up 3-0 on Randleman starter Seth Way and held on.
Randleman has completed its regular-season conference schedule, while the other six teams all had two games to play entering this week. Trinity, Uwharrie Charter Academy and Providence Grove can all finish in second place.
** Providence topped Eastern Randolph 7-3 at home with Tyler Foust going 3-for-3 and scoring two runs and Lemuel Coltrane driving in two runs. Three nights later on the road, the Patriots upended Eastern Randolph 4-3. Andrew Thomas and Andrew Canter picked up the pitching victories as the Patriots reached the 12-win mark – two more than all of last season.
In between those outcomes, Providence Grove dropped an 8-3 home decision to Burlington Williams in non-league play.
** UCA beat Wheatmore twice last week, winning 1-0 at home behind Jake Hunter’s three-hit pitching.
In the rematch, Carter Brown homered in a 7-2 road victory that included Brett Smith’s complete-game pitching.
In between, UCA’s Ben Medinger hit a two-run, first-inning home run in a 5-2 non-league home triumph against Ledford.
** In the Mid-Piedmont Conference, Asheboro lost 1-0 at Ledford and then pulled out a 5-4 home victory against the same opponent. Tanner Marsh and Davis Gore homered in the Asheboro victory, which marked just the team’s second triumph in its last eight outings.
Softball
Southwestern Randolph suffered its first loss of the season with Friday night’s 3-0 home setback to Hickory Ridge.
It was a non-league showdown between teams that both held 16-1 records when the game was finished.
Hickory Ridge scored one run in the third inning and two more in the seventh.
Southwestern Randolph won the previous two days in PAC play to clinch the regular-season crown. The Cougars topped host Eastern Randolph 4-0 and visiting Wheatmore 9-0. Macie Crutchfield struck out 13 Eastern Randolph batters and Alyssa Harris fanned 12 Wheatmore batters.
** Skyler Pugh and Addie Flinchum homered as Eastern Randolph nipped host Uwharrie Charter Academy 9-8.
Also last week, the Wildcats defeated Wheatmore 7-0 with Flinchum hitting a home run and Logan Beaver scoring two runs. Pugh and Flinchum combined to strike out 19 batters.
** UCA had a better result with a 13-8 home victory against Randleman with Kynley Brewer rapping three hits and scoring two runs. Also, UCA drubbed visiting Trinity 24-0 with Brewer homering and driving in three runs. Emory Johnson also homered and Kaitlyn West was credited with a three-inning no-hitter.
** Providence Grove senior pitcher Emma Mazzarone eclipsed the 800-strikeout mark for her career while throwing a no-hitter in a 16-1 road romp against Trinity. She posted 12 strikeouts.
Providence Grove suffered a 5-4, eight-inning loss at Southern Guilford in a non-league game despite Gracie Smith’s two runs batted in.
** Asheboro’s 11-10 non-conference victory against visiting Wheatmore came with five runs in the bottom of the seventh. Avery Dykes had four hits and scored two runs for Wheatmore.
Girls’ soccer
A matchup between the PAC first-place and second-place teams didn’t turn out to be much of a showdown as undefeated Wheatmore whipped host Providence Grove 10-1 last week. Summer Bowman scored five goals and Ellie Garrison had four goals.
Brecken Snotherly had a wide array of ways to score with Eastern Randolph’s girls’ basketball team. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
Eastern Randolph senior relishes sports journey
RAMSEUR – Brecken Snotherly’s path has taken a few turns during high school, but generally the Eastern Randolph standout athlete has reached her destinations.
She put the basketball in the hoop at an alarmingly successful rate and she knows her way around running courses as well.
Basketball became her passion and she’ll continue in that sport for East Tennessee State.
“Basketball is my main thing,” she said. “I’ve been playing basketball since kindergarten. I just have a real love for the game.”
That makes sense considering her scoring prowess and ball-moving abilities. Snotherly poured in more than 2,000 points in a prep career that included time with Winston-Salem Christian.
But once the pandemic passed, she said she knew she wanted to be back home at Eastern Randolph.
The Wildcats have been glad to have her.
“One of the hardest-working kids I’ve seen at this level,” Eastern Randolph girls’ basketball coach Jeff Davis said. “Just her IQ. She studies and studies the game and wants to keep learning.”
That example helped set the tone as the Wildcats racked up a 19-8 record during the recently completed season.
As a senior, Snotherly scored 30.7 points to go with 9.7 rebounds per game.
“She’s a player we’ve been battling with it seems like forever,” Randleman coach Brandon Varner said.
With 51 points against Trinity during a game this winter, she re-set her single-game school record.
While Snotherly has a smooth jumper, it’s not like she relied on 3-point shooting. She’s efficient on fast breaks and well-equipped to carve through defenses.
“Some of it comes from transition,” Davis said. “It’s more of a desire.”
It was noticeable every time she was on the court.
“That kid is a nice player,” said Eastern Alamance coach Tim Krotish, who topped the career 500-win mark during the season. “She’ll pull up and knock that thing down in your face. She can go right, left.”
Ask Snotherly about that mid-range shot, and she’ll widen her smile.
“My little pull-up jumper, that’s my specialty,” she said.
Snotherly, a top 10 finisher in past state meets in cross country and track and field, has been excelling again in middle-distance and distance events this spring. So there’s more to do before she takes her basketball skills to the collegiate level.
Snotherly committed to East Tennessee State before her senior season. She had multiple college offers, but decided it was best to lock in on one school before her final go-around with the Wildcats.
So there’s more places to go and things to accomplish. For Snotherly, it seems to fit right in.
“It has been my journey,” she said. “I wouldn’t change it.”
Numerous schools have stellar results for individuals
ASHEBORO – Asheboro’s boys’ and girls’ track and field teams were superior in the Randolph County Championships on Tuesday.
But the Blue Comets had plenty of company from entrants from other schools when it came to special individual performances.
On the girls’ side, Brecken Snotherly of Eastern Randolph won four events on the track and Randleman’s Gracie Beane was strong in field events. Asheboro’s Jalaya Showers, Wheatmore’s Ariel Martin and Trinity’s Kensley Fox also won multiple individual events.
In boys’ races, Southwestern Randolph’s Adam Cole was the top sprinter, Asheboro’s Nicolas Chavez claimed both hurdles events, Wheatmore’s Zach Hazelwood had huge successes in distance events, and Asheboro’s Lance Everhart was two-event winner and a runner-up in two other events.
Asheboro’s girls compiled 145½ points to runner-up Wheatmore’s 118½ among the seven teams.
The Blue Comets, competing at their home facility (at South Asheboro Middle School), were more dominant in boys’ competition by winning seven events and racking up 186 points, while Trinity was second with 130.
Here’s a look at some highlights:
Girls
Snotherly, who scored 40 of her team’s 47 points, dominated in some events and had challenges in others.
She was pushed in the 400 meters by Wheatmore’s Peyton Wilson. Snotherly maintained a slight edge down the stretch and finished in 1 minute, 4.42 seconds, compared to Wilson’s 1:04.99.
In the 800, Snotherly (2:38.82) used a strong finishing kick to overcome Southwestern Randolph’s Coley Shiflet (2:41.18).
Snotherly had no threats in cruising in the 1,600 (6:06.00) and 3,200 (13:25.19).
Showers, a freshman, won the 100 (12.69) and 200 (26.11)
Beane won the high jump at 5 feet, 4 inches and the triple jump at 34-1¼. She was second in the long jump.
Martin won the 100 hurdles (19.01) and 300 hurdles (52.97).
Fox was the winner in the shot put (29-4½) and discus (86-8).
Asheboro’s Sion Murrain was the winner in the long jump (15-10½). Teammate Lia George was the only entrant in the pole vault.
Asheboro’s girls won the 400 relay and 800 relay, while Wheatmore claimed the 1,600 relay and Providence Grove was first in the 3,200 relay.
Boys
Cole won the 100 (11.16) and 200 (22.76). Cole had 20 of Southwestern Randolph’s 51 points, plus he anchored the Cougars’ third-place 400 relay (that resulted in six more team points).
Chavez edged Everhart in the 110 hurdles in 16.07 and ran away in the 300 hurdles in 41.67.
Hazelwood won the 1,600 (4:51.52.) and 3,200 (10:55.65). He was second in the 800 behind Trinity’s Jose Castillo (2:12.80).
Everhart won two events by claiming the long jump (20-1) and pole vault (11-0). Teammate Kai Matthews was the 400 winner in 54.72.
In field events, Chase Farlow of Randleman won the high jump in competition that extended for a large portion of the meet. He cleared 6-2, with Everhart the runner-up at 6-0.
Randleman had three other winners in field events: Amari Ferdna (triple jump, 40-3), Landon McGee (discus, 118-9), Amarion Moton (shot put, 40-6¼).
Boys’ relay winners were: Asheboro in the 400 and 1,600 and Trinity in the 800 and 3,200.
Medinger has been a steady performer for the Eagles, and he’s one of the core veterans on the team.
UCA went 3-0 last week, including winning a pair of tight Piedmont Athletic Conference matchups with Eastern Randolph. Medinger scored a run in the team’s 3-0 decision against Eastern Randolph.
Medinger, a senior utility player, is among the top UCA players in on-base percentage and run production.
He was one of two UCA selections for the All-PAC team in 2022.
Entering this week with an 8-9 record, the Eagles are within two victories of matching last year’s win total that came in 25 games.
Coach Brandon Varner had Randleman’s girls’ basketball team on a winning path. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
RANDLEMAN – Brandon Varner’s wildly successful five-season stretch as Randleman’s girls’ basketball coach has come to an end.
“Just time to step away,” Varner said. “The biggest thing was the time I was putting into basketball. There’s really no breaks.”
Under Varner, the Tigers went 103-20, with half those defeats coming in his first season when the team went 15-10.
Varner, 40, will remain as athletics director at Randleman Middle School, where he also is on the football staff.
“It was just getting to be a lot of time and going back and forth to the high school,” Varner said.
Randleman finished 27-2 during the past season following a 25-1 record in 2021-22. The Tigers were the Class 2-A West Region top seed in each of those seasons, reaching the regional semifinals this year for the fourth season in a row.
“It was so much fun and so many memories,” he said. “So proud of what (the players) accomplished and how hard they worked. They bought in to accomplish everything as a team and were dedicated to being a championship team.”
Varner took charge of the program beginning with the 2018-19 season. The Tigers have rung up a 56-4 record in regular-season conference play during his time.
Randleman was 24-3 in his second season and 12-4 in the pandemic-shortened slate in the 2020-21 academic year.
There will be transition in the lineup as well. Senior standouts Gracyn Hall, Elizabeth York and Jordan Booker completed their eligibility. Gracie Beane and Audra Petty figure to form the nucleus for next season.
“It should be a very appealing job,” Varner said. “There’s a talented group of girls who work really hard and know how to win.”
Varner said his duties with Randleman Middle School that include driving the bus for some teams has kept him on the go. He said he sensed the need for near-constant attention on the girls’ basketball program, particularly without an assistant coach at all practices.
“I felt it needed to be year-round if we’re going to be good,” he said. “I felt like that’s what we needed to do. During the season, if we’re not practicing, I felt like somebody is getting ahead of us.”
Varner said he wouldn’t rule out returning to a coaching role if a season or two away has him itching to return. He also said a small-coaching assistant coaching position might be attractive as well.
Logan Fox of Providence Grove had a role in tight baseball games with Randleman last week. (Randolph Record file photo)
Providence Grove did what might have seemed like the unthinkable in Piedmont Athletic Conference baseball last week.
The Patriots knocked off state power Randleman and ended a multi-year streak of domination.
“Probably was unexpected,” Providence Grove coach Glen Hunt said. “Not a lot of people thought we could go in and win that game.”
Providence Grove’s 3-2 victory halted Randleman’s 38-game winning streak against conference opponents that spread across parts of five seasons.
And two days later, the Patriots nearly did it again.
Providence Grove’s stunning victory came on Lemuel Coltrane’s three-run home run in the fourth inning at Randleman. How unusual was that?
It’s the only home run hit by the Patriots in what’s now 16 games played this year.
That blast off Seth Way followed singles by Andrew Canter and Joe Coltrane, that latter an attempted sacrifice bunt that turned into a single. Lemuel Coltrane, a right-handed batter, drove the ball over the fence in left-center field.
“He got ahold of a fastball and it went out,” Hunt said.
Freshman Andrew Thomas threw a three-hitter with three walks and seven strikeouts to frustrate an often-potent Randleman offense.
“That game really went fast,” Hunt said. “All of a sudden, I looked up and it’s the sixth inning and we’ve still got the lead.”
The Tigers hadn’t lost a game to a conference opponent since April 25, 2019, to Providence Grove. Two days earlier that year, the Patriots also defeated Randleman.
After that week, the Tigers went on their conference domination, including a May 2, 2019, victory against Providence Grove in the league tournament final.
The pandemic limited Randleman to one conference game in 2020 before the rest of that season was cancelled. The Tigers were 8-0 in PAC play this season before the loss.
The outcome ended Randleman’s nine-game overall winning streak this season.
Last Thursday, Randleman avenged that outcome with a 3-2 victory of its own against Providence Grove. Austin Lemons pitched a complete game while allowing one earned run and Hunter Atkins drove in two runs and Shawn Miller scored two runs for the Tigers.
“We played some pretty good defense in that game,” Hunt said.
Logan Fox had two of Providence Grove’s five hits off Lemons. Lemuel Coltrane doubled and scored, but Canter’s 5 2/3 innings on the mound went for naught. The loss means the Patriots can’t catch Randleman in the regular-season standings.
Only Trinity with two conference losses and four league games to go can move to the top. That would require beating the Tigers twice this week.
Providence Grove has split four conference series to hold a 4-4 PAC mark and 10-6 record entering this week.
“Hopefully, the kids realize what they can do,” Hunt said. “Beating a team like Randleman should solidify that.”
** Southwestern Randolph won twice against Wheatmore, posting a 7-3 road victory as Grant Little pitched into the sixth inning without allowing an earned run in the PAC game. Adam Cole and Tyler Parks both had two hits, including a double apiece, and Grant Kirk scored two runs.
Later in the week at Asheboro, Austin Harvell’s grand slam in the sixth inning clicked in the mercy rule in a 12-1 romp. Cole launched a three-run home run, Easton Clapp had three hits and scored three runs and Parks had two runs batted in. Jonah Campbell’s 5 1/3 innings on the mound earned him the victory.
In between those games, Southwestern Randolph hammered visiting Jordan-Matthews 18-6 as Eli Gravely drilled a home run and joined Harvell with three runs batted in.
** Jake Hunter and Brett Smith combined for Uwharrie Charter Academy’s 3-0 shutout of host Eastern Randolph.
In the rematch, UCA won 4-3 at home in 10 innings with Troy Carver and Caleb Brown knocking in runs in the 10th, which began with the score tied 1-1. The winning run scored on a passed ball. Eastern Randolph’s Stratton Barwick struck out 12 in seven innings.
UCA topped host Winston-Salem Atkins 11-2 in non-league play with Walker Wilkins driving in three runs in the Eagles’ first outing of a three-win week.
Asheboro’s Josh Meadows, left, Tanner Marsh and Davis Gore stand during the national anthem Saturday prior to a game at First National Bank Field in Greensboro. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
** At Greensboro, Asheboro finished 1-2 in a three-day tournament at First National Bank Field.
Asheboro salvaged the seventh-place game on Tanner Marsh’s game-winning double in the bottom of the seventh inning of a 2-1 victory against Northern Guilford on Saturday. Marsh struck out 10 in a six-inning pitching performance before Connor Adams worked the seventh for the victory.
Earlier, the Blue Comets lost 13-6 to Southeast Guilford and fell 2-1 to Western Alamance.
Alex Stoltz celebrates his victory in the Challengers division Saturday night at Caraway Speedway. (Courtesy photo)
SOPHIA – Jason York wasn’t unscathed but he was the winner in Saturday night’s 69-lap Late Models feature at Caraway Speedway.
York, a Reidsville driver, was the top qualifier and started in the front spot, but he withstood several restarts to claim the victory.
Boo Boo Dalton of Liberty was the runner-up, followed by Buddy Isles, Justin Hicks and Jamie York.
In Modifieds, Josh Lowder was the wire-to-wire winner in the 35-lap race. Billy Gregg was the runner-up, followed by Mitchell Wright, Jaxson Casper and Justice Calabro.
In Mini Stocks, A.J. Sanders prevailed in the 12-driver field across 40 laps. Fast qualifier Chuck Wall was the runner-up, with Johnny Baker, Luke Smith and Bryson Pickard comprising the next three spots.
In Challengers, Alex Stoltz stormed from the rear to capture the checkered flag. Tony Black was second and Allen Vance took third ahead of Josh Williams and Blake Sharpe.
In UCARs, Daniel Hughes posted the victory ahead of Steven Collins, Justin Smith, Ron Mock and Josh Phillips completed the top five. Blair Patterson and Smith won UCARs heat races.
John Morton topped the field again in the Bootlegger feature over Robbie Perkins and Bentley Black.
In Southern Ground Pounders, Dennis Weaver was first across the line followed by Bobby Griffin.
The next regular racing card at the speedway is set for April 29.
Macie Crutchfield has been stellar as Southwestern Randolph’s ace pitcher. (Randolph Record file photo)
Southwestern Randolph continued its dominance in softball with three more victories.
The biggest came against defending Piedmont Athletic Conference champion Providence Grove, which fell by 7-1 to the Cougars.
By week’s end, the Cougars held a 14-0 overall record and a 9-0 PAC mark, nearly wrapping up the regular-season title.
Macie Crutchfield struck out 14 Providence Grove batters with a four-hitter. She walked three. Maddie Strider scored two runs.
Southwestern Randolph then socked host Central Davidson 19-3 behind Madison Varner’s five runs batted in.
The Cougars capped the week with a 10-0 ripping of visiting Randleman as Caressa King rapped four hits.
** Providence Grove won 2-0 against visiting Union Pines on Thursday as senior pitcher Emma Mazzarone struck out 14. That increased her career strikeout total to 792.
