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Randleman baseball photo May 12 2023

Randleman hits at another level in baseball playoff romps

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RANDLEMAN – As the Class 2-A state playoffs began, Randleman’s baseball team cranked it up a notch.

The Tigers know what it takes this time of the year.

“We’ve got to keep up the energy,” senior second baseman Shawn Miller said. “We all know we’re good enough to be on the field.”

For the two-time defending state champions, the bats have awakened. With Friday night’s power display, it was reminiscent of a season ago – with mostly different guys taking the swings.

“More of what I expected throughout the year,” coach Jake Smith said of the offense. “Hopefully, we’re hitting our stride and continue to swing it.”

Five home runs helped in the second-seeded Tigers’ 13-3 victory against 15th-seeded Forbush.

So confidence could be soaring again for Randleman after a shaky stretch late in the regular season. The Tigers (22-4) next meet No. 7 seed East Davidson (20-4) on Tuesday night.

“It’s something about this time of the year,” catcher Caleb Dunn said. “We’re confident and we’re trying to reach our goal.”

The latest power display against Forbush (21-8) began early. Starting pitcher Austin Lemons belted a two-run homer to cap the three-run first inning.

“Every time he gets on the mound, he helps himself,” Smith said.

Lemons worked through five shutout innings, holding Forbush to two hits while striking out seven.

By then, the Tigers held an 8-0 lead.

In the fourth, Dunn’s ground-rule double knocked in one run. Then Hunter Atkins hammered a full-count pitch over the fence in center field off reliever Riley Campbell for a grand slam. It was quite the conclusion to a 13-pitch at-bat.

“The joy came really from fighting with two strikes, not really necessarily the grand slam,” Atkins said. “Really fighting with two strikes, no matter where the ball goes. Two strikes and get a big hit like that, I was definitely excited.”

Forbush produced three runs in the sixth with just one hit off reliever Drake Purvis, leaving the bases loaded.

Then with one out in the bottom of the inning, Randleman got going again. Atkins, Seth Way and Lemons hit back-to-back-to-back long balls.

“Those were no-doubters,” Smith said.

Then, per the script, it was Chesney Welch’s turn and he hammered a two-run double to right field to end the game via the mercy rule. He has had game-ending hits twice in a four-game stretch.

The production is coming throughout the batting order.

“We’re competing even more and getting hits and coming through,” Atkins said. “Anybody can do the job.”

That has been another encouraging sign. John Kirkpatrick had three hits vs. Forbush.

“I think the bottom of the lineup had real good at-bats,” Smith said of Friday night’s effort.

In the first round last Tuesday, Randleman ripped No. 31 seed Reidsville 17-2. Way and Purvis pitched.

The Tigers have allowed less than 2.5 runs per game this year. The pitching has been a staple.

“They work so hard,” Dunn said. “It’s paying off for them.”

ER baseball K Graham makes tag v N Moore April2023

Prep Baseball: Randleman rolls up wins in South Carolina; County teams split in Classic

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Eastern Randolph’s Kahlin Graham reaches to make a tag on North Moore’s Austin Patterson during a game in the ZooKeepers Classic last week at Southwestern Randolph. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Randleman’s baseball team went to the Mingo Bay Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and came away with a 4-0 mark in the event during spring break.

It began with a 4-3 victory against Woodson, Va., as Caleb Dunn drove in two runs in a four-run first inning.

The Tigers rode Seth Way’s bat and arm in a 9-3 victory against Robinson, Va. Way worked six innings on the mound, while he drilled a three-run home run and a double on his way to five runs batted in.

Austin Lemons threw a four-hitter with 11 strikeouts in an 8-1 romp past Buckhannon-Upshur, W. Va. Hunter Atkins had three hits, including a double and triple.

Then came a 4-1 victory against University out of Morgantown, W. Va., as Braxton Walker logged six innings in his first pitching start. Atkins tripled and drove in two runs.

Split decisions

The four Randolph County teams in the ZooKeepers Classic at Southwestern Randolph all split two games last week. The final day of competition in the event, which had pre-determined matchups, was wiped out by Friday’s rain.

Eastern Randolph got off to a good start by defeating North Moore 13-5 with Pierce Leonard providing two triples and four runs batted in. Apex Friendship defeated the Wildcats 11-1/

Southwestern Randolph fell 12-10 to Chapel Hill despite Eli Gravely’s home run. The Cougars then held off North Moore for a 10-9 victory as Kamden Carter drove in three runs.

Providence Grove lost 10-0 to Apex Friendship before pounding Jordan-Matthews 13-0.

Wheatmore began with a 9-0 whipping of Jordan-Matthews. But the Warriors fell short in a 6-4 loss to Chapel Hill.

Asheboro falls twice

In the Mid-Piedmont Conference, Asheboro lost by 7-2 at home and 8-3 on the road to North Davidson. Tanner Marsh homered in the home game for the Blue Comets.

This week, the Blue Comets are slated for games Wednesday through Friday as part of a tournament at First National Bank Field, which is home to the Greensboro Grasshoppers.

Wheatmore girls soccer Summer Bowman v East Davidson 2022

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

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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 against Southeast Guilford.

Randleman is playing this week in a tournament in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

** Southwestern Randolph’s Adam Cole and Tyler Parks homered in both PAC games against Eastern Randolph.

In the first meeting, Eastern Randolph routed host Southwestern Randolph 14-5 as Ethan Frye scored three runs. The Cougars got revenge with Friday’s 11-0 road whipping, aided by Jonah Campbell’s seven-hitter with nine strikeouts.

** Trinity and Providence Grove also split PAC meetings.

Trinity won 7-2 at home with Cade Hill knocking in three runs and Jake Little homering.

Providence Grove avenged the loss with Friday’s 10-3 home result behind Andrew Canter’s six innings of work on the mound without giving up an earned run and Jayten Beasley’s three runs batted in. Trinity’s Jacob Proctor had a two-run homer among his three hits.

** Asheboro’s Davis Gore had a two-run home run in Asheboro’s 15-8 non-conference triumph at Southwestern Randolph. Tanner Marsh helped the Blue Comets with three hits, including a pair of doubles, and scoring three runs and Amare Godwin drove in four runs.

Josh Meadows smashed a three-run homer and Marsh belted a two-run shot in Asheboro’s 6-3 home victory against Central Davidson in Mid-Piedmont Conference action.

** Wheatmore upended host Central Davidson 7-1 with Parker Kines working six innings without permitting an earned run in the non-league matchup.

Softball

Southwestern Randolph moved to 11-0 overall going into spring break.

The Cougars are more than halfway through their Piedmont Athletic Conference schedule with a 7-0 league mark. Next week, the have a home rematch with defending PAC champion Providence Grove.

Southwestern Randolph topped Uwharrie Charter Academy 4-3, with Carleigh Whitson and Maddie Varner both driving in two runs in their first game of last week.

When Southwestern Randolph flattened host Asheboro 14-0, Ky Perdue had two triples and scored two runs. Aylssa Harris was the winning pitcher with nine strikeouts in the five-inning game.

The Cougars capped another perfect week by winning 19-0 at Trinity in three innings.

Southwestern Randolph is off until April 11, when it takes on second-place and defending PAC champion Providence Grove at home.

** Eastern Randolph edged host Providence Grove 4-3 with Skylar Pugh holding the Patriots to one earned run. Providence Grove’s Emma Mazzarone homered and struck out 10 batters.

In Eastern Randolph’s 2-1 non-conference escape at Northern Guilford, Addie Flinchum recorded 14 strikeouts with two walks.

Then the Wildcats won again by defeating visiting Randleman 9-4 with Ziera Watson driving in three runs and posting three hits. Pugh struck out 14 and walked four.

** Providence Grove got back on track in a 17-1 pounding of visiting Trinity as Ruby Caudle struck out 11.

Then the Patriots returned to PAC play and Mazzarone homered twice and tripled while throwing a five-inning no-hitter with 15 strikeouts at Wheatmore. She walked one while facing 17 total batters.

** Wheatmore’s Carmen Turgeon struck out 13 in five innings of a 13-0 blistering of visiting Trinity.

Wheatmore had a different type of game with a 12-10 non-conference victory in nine innings at Southeast Guilford. The Warriors posted eight runs in the seventh inning,

** Uwharrie Charter Academy fell 10-9 at North Stanly despite Molly Bulla’s homer and double.

Girls’ soccer

Undefeated Wheatmore had a rare close game with last week’s 1-0 victory at North Davidson on Summer Bowman’s goal.

In 11 games, that’s the only outcome decided by fewer than six goals.

Then the Warriors won 9-0 at Southwestern Randolph and 9-0 against visiting Gray Stone Day School.

Southwestern Randolph was on both ends of nine-goal margins. The Cougars defeated host Eastern Randolph 10-1 behind Macy Allred’s four goals. Two nights later came the loss to Wheatmore.