Asheboro, baseball
Gore has been a steady performer for the Blue Comets on the baseball field this spring. He shares the team lead with six home runs, and he’s second among the Blue Comets with 18 runs scored.
Gore is a catcher and utility player heading to Belmont Abbey for college.
Asheboro won four of its last five games entering the Class 3-A state playoffs this week.
Gore also played football for the Blue Comets.
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.
Asheboro shortstop Tanner Marsh makes a throw during the 2022 season. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
Asheboro’s baseball prospects make various choices
ASHEBORO – Tanner Marsh said he had lots of guidance when determining his best path in baseball after he leaves Asheboro High School.
That ultimately led the versatile player to signing with Liberty during the fall signing period.
“All of my brothers are in college playing baseball and I had good advice,” Marsh said.
He also had extensive playing time in the summer, largely with Randolph County Post 45. He said manager Ronnie Pugh and the staff helped him boost his profile.
“They know a lot about baseball,” he said.
Marsh, who’s frequently a lead-off batter, said he’s expecting to play as a shortstop at Liberty. He’s also a pitcher for Asheboro and Post 45.
“Before I started getting recruited, I didn’t know Liberty was a thing,” Marsh said, noting that he received a boost when college recruiters saw him during the State Games of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. “They liked the way I carried myself on the field.”
Asheboro has other college prospects under coach Brett Hoogkamp. Davis Gore, a catcher among other positions, signed with Division II Belmont Abbey.
“He does well at numerous positions,” Hoogkamp said of Gore, who also has spent time as a third baseman, outfielder and pitcher.
Josh Meadows, a power hitter who’s a first baseman and outfielder, could land on the college level.
Tanner Marsh’s signing added to a family tradition.
Tristan Marsh began his college stops at Coastal Carolina. Trevor Marsh is in the UNC Wilmington program, and Tatum Marsh is set for another season at Brunswick Community College.
Hoogkamp said that family factor has served the youngest Marsh well.
“He’s always trying to compete with this,” Hoogkamp said. “He has figured a lot of things out. He’s loaded with talent. He does pretty well in all areas of the game.”
Tanner Marsh, 17, has more to accomplish for the Blue Comets. He’s a starting guard on the basketball team and another baseball season in the spring.
Gage Miller, a third baseman and pitcher, left the Asheboro program for his senior year to join Holly Springs-based Pro5 Academy. He’s a former North Carolina State commit, but in late November he announced his intention to attend Division I newcomer Queens of Charlotte.