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Calvin Smith

Trinity baseball Jake Little from May2022 NEW CROP

Check on college-bound athletes from area schools

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Jake Little of Trinity made a big impact in baseball for the Bulldogs and he’ll continue playing in 2024. (File photo)

Here’s a check on some of Randolph County’s top athletes from the Class of 2023 with their college intentions:

** Asheboro’s Nicolas Chavez signed to go to UNC Asheville for men’s track and field. He was a hurdler and pole vaulter for the Blue Comets.

** Katelyn Thomas of Asheboro is headed to Anderson (S.C.) University to play women’s tennis. She has been on the Mid-Piedmont Conference all-conference team the past two years.

** Diego Gutierrez of Asheboro is going to Carolina University for men’s soccer. He also was a wrestling standout for the Blue Comets.

Edwin Perez is slated to play men’s soccer at Chowan, which is the same destination for Asheboro teammate Calvin Smith. Smith was the Defensive Player of the Year in the Mid-Piedmont Conference, while Gutierrez and Perez were all-conference choices.

** Trinity’s baseball team had several players pegged to extend their playing careers. A trio of All-Piedmont Athletic Conference players will make stops in junior college.

Pitcher and outfielder Jake Little is going to Florence-Darlington Tech in Florence, S.C., to play for the Stingers, who’ve been a regional power. Pitcher Cade Hill is heading to Rockingham Community College. Jaxson Coble, who also played football for the Bulldogs, is going to Guilford Tech after being dubbed the Bulldogs’ top offensive player in 2023.

** Three-sport standout Dylan Hodges of Trinity is set to play men’s basketball at Division III Pfeiffer.

Hodges was a high-flying swingman, averaging 17.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and a team-best 2.5 steals per game as a senior. Hodges was also a receiver for the football team, while he excelled as a high jumper and sprinter in track and field.

** From Providence Grove, Caroline Wright is going to Pfeiffer to play women’s golf. She was last year’s Player of the Year in the Piedmont Athletic Conference for girls’ golf.

Previous stories have documented intended destinations for many other Class of 2023 athletes from Randolph County.

East West girls Snotherly July2023

NC East-West All-Star Games: Asheboro players make unique marks in soccer showcase

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Brecken Snotherly of Eastern Randolph heads up the court with the ball during Monday night’s North Carolina East-West All-Star Game for girls’ basketball at the Greensboro Coliseum. Snotherly played for the West team. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

BROWNS SUMMIT – Asheboro’s Calvin Smith and Cristian Ortiz each did something no other players in the North Carolina East-West All-Star Game could claim.

They were issued the only yellow cards during the boys’ soccer game Tuesday night at MacPherson Stadium.

“They were both kind of tactical,” Smith said of the infractions. “They weren’t cynical.”

Calvin Smith of Asheboro heads the ball over an East player during Tuesday night’s game at MacPherson Stadium. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Those moments aside, the duo from Asheboro embraced the opportunity to compete in the showcase for Class of 2023 standouts. They played for the West team.

The East scored two early goals and those held up for a 2-1 victory.

Smith was assessed his yellow card shortly after the midway mark of the first half. Ortiz was hit with a yellow card in the game’s final 15 seconds when he stopped an East breakaway.

“The situations that we were in,” Ortiz said. “Had to do it.”

West player Cristian Ortiz of Asheboro makes a move on East’s Alexander Walker of Wilmington Laney during Tuesday night’s game at MacPherson Stadium. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Ortiz said he was never issued a yellow card while playing for the Blue Comets. He said Smith was an unlikely recipient of a yellow card as well.

The West looked overmatched early in the game, with the East scoring twice in the first 13½ minutes. The tone eventually changed.

“It took us a few minutes to wake up,” Smith said. “I feel we controlled the last 60 (minutes).”

The West scored with about 11 minutes left. Smith was credited with an assist on a goal from Brock Gramann of Charlotte Providence.

“We started coming back,” Ortiz said. “It made it more interesting.”

Smith said he was “a little bit exhausted” based on several days of training and other North Carolina East-West All-Star Game activities in Greensboro and the game.

The girls’ soccer game ended with the East winning 6-2. That marked the most goals for a team in the history of the North Carolina East-West All-Star Game for girls.

Gracyn Hall of Randleman takes a shot in the North Carolina East-West All-Star Game for girls’ basketball. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Basketball

Gracyn Hall of Randleman and Brecken Snotherly of Eastern Randolph played for the West in the Monday night’s girls’ game at the Greensboro Coliseum. The East won 74-68.

Hall had six points in 18 minutes off the bench, making two of her four attempts from the field to go with two free throws. Snotherly was 1-for-4 with two points.

Football

In Wednesday’s game at Jamieson Stadium on the Greensboro Grimsley campus, the East posted a 14-0 victory.

Keno Jones of Northern Nash threw a touchdown pass and was named the game’s Offensive Most Valuable Player. Shamar Sutton of Northeastern and Avery Gaby of East Duplin scored the touchdowns. Lee County’s Dayreon Jennings was named the Defensive MVP.

Asheboro boys soccer Cristian Ortiz smiles 2022season

Soccer duo embraces Asheboro’s rise

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Cristian Ortiz of Asheboro reacts to scoring a game during the Class 3-A state playoffs last fall against West Iredell. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Blue Comets have two players in NC East-West All-Star Game

ASHEBORO – Calvin Smith and Cristian Ortiz helped take Asheboro’s boys’ soccer program to new heights.

They’re being rewarded with spots in next Tuesday night’s North Carolina East-West All-Star Game at MacPherson Stadium in Browns Summit.

With two players in the summer showcase, it’s an indication of the growth of Asheboro soccer.

Last year’s 23-2-2 record for the Blue Comets was part of a season that ended in the Class 3-A West Region final.

“I was just really proud of how far we made it,” Smith said. “It just kept going. We eventually found ourselves in the regional final.”

Smith and Ortiz earned their spots by playing well in the Mid-Piedmont Conference. Coach John Blake of league member Ledford is the West coach.

Smith, a defender, received numerous honors, including Defensive Player of the Year in the Mid-Piedmont Conference and all-star recognition.

With those accolades corresponding to Asheboro’s stellar two-year stretch, it means even more.

“I always felt we had the best group of players around,” Smith said. “It feels so good when you win with the team. Everybody’s mood is up.”

Asheboro’s Calvin Smith heads the ball during last year’s Class 3-A West Region final against Hickory. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Smith was a three-year starter for Asheboro. Ortiz, a striker, became an offensive force in his last season with 36 goals after serving mostly as a backup a year earlier.

“I didn’t play that much,” Ortiz said. “I kind of saw what they did.”

Then he carried that into his final high school season.

“I would always be the first one on the field,” Ortiz said. “I would always try to motivate all my teammates.”

Smith’s experience this summer included going with a team based in the Triad to Baton Rouge, La., for the U.S. Youth Soccer’s Southern Regional.

In a few weeks, the 18-year-old will be heading to play for Division II Chowan.

“I wasn’t ready to give up on it,” Smith said. “I’ve been playing since I was about 4 years old. I kind of always had a ball at my feet.”

Ortiz, 18, will be done with organized soccer after this month’s game. He plans to attend UNC Greensboro.

“I’m very excited,” Ortiz said. “I have one last game to play. It’s going to be good to be back on the field in a competitive way.”

Yet in the base of Smith and Ortiz, they’ve left their marks on the Blue Comets. Outsiders have taken notice of the soccer team.

“We never really did it for the attention,” Ortiz said. “I think they’ll still keep it going.”

“I think for sure they’re paying attention now if they weren’t before,” Smith said.