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Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

UCA baseball after winning regional at ER

UCA Eagles sweep Eastern Randolph in regional finals

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UCA team members gather after winning the Class 1-A West Region title.

Clutch late-inning work boosts UCA’s baseball team

RAMSEUR – It was pretty much a matter of Uwharrie Charter Academy’s baseball team making the best of tough situations Thursday night.

By doing so, the Eagles are heading to where they want to go.

UCA completed a Class 1-A West Regional finals sweep of Eastern Randolph by winning 8-1 in Game 2, scoring all their runs in the last two innings.

“It still hasn’t sunk in,” UCA senior Ben Medinger said of the chance to play for a state title.

The Eagles (20-10) will play in the state championship series against North Moore or Voyager Academy on June 2-3 in either Burlington or Holly Springs. Game 2 of the East Region finals is set for Friday night, with a possible Game 3 on Saturday.

After a tense series with Eastern Randolph, the Eagles will have a few days to relax. UCA and Eastern Randolph are the Piedmont Athletic Conference’s only Class 1-A teams, and they made it through the bracket for this showdown.

“We just kind of ran out of steam,” Eastern Randolph coach Brent Haynes said.

UCA is now 4-0 vs. the Wildcats (8-19) this season, but it was far from easy.

Eastern Randolph pitcher Stratton Barwick blanked the second-seeded Eagles across the first five innings. UCA coach Rob Shore said the Eagles had trouble solving Barwick, a left-hander, during a 4-3, 10-inning victory more than a month earlier during the regular season.

Meanwhile, UCA had freshman pitcher Jake Hunter up to the task on the mound, though it was taxing for several reasons.

“I haven’t gone seven too often,” he said of the complete game.

There were concerns about him making it that far after he absorbed a line drive off Barwick’s bat for what became the last out of the fifth inning. The liner pelted Hunter in the stomach – and he had a sizable reminder imprinted on his midsection afterward.

Hunter keeled over, while second baseman Troy Carver retrieved the ball and recorded the out with a throw to first.

“It hurt in the beginning,” Hunter said.

“I think it scared him more than anything,” Shore said.

At the time, the Eagles trailed 1-0. They went ahead in the top of the sixth.

Grat Dalton’s one-out single brought in the tying run. Walker Wilkins’ sacrifice fly put UCA ahead.

In the bottom of the inning, No. 21 seed Eastern Randolph put a couple of runners on base without a hit with one out. Hunter responded with two strikeouts to thwart the threat.

In UCA’s six-run seventh, all the scoring came with two outs.

“We showed (relentlessness) with every one of those coming with two outs,” Carver said.

Carver’s two-out single began the scoring outburst. Medinger drove in the next two runs with his first triple of the season. The Eagles piled on more runs courtesy of some fielding blunders and Caleb Stickle’s two-run single.

“We put them up when we needed it,” UCA right fielder Carter Brown said of the runs.

That marked the end of Barwick’s pitching.

Hunter ended up with a three-hitter.

“Jake absolutely shoved,” Carver said.

Throughout the game, the good thing for Hunter was that he had third baseman Landen Zephir making a variety of defensive plays on his behalf. Those were among the reasons that potential Eastern Randolph threats were doused.

“We just could not get that hit,” Haynes said.

The Eagles achieved what they sought in their first road game of the playoffs. It was capped by a typical on-field celebration.

For Brown, a junior, the setting had significance.

“It meant 10 times more to me because this is my home (district),” he said of playing on Eastern Randolph’s field.

Eastern Randolph senior Pierce Leonard was on the flip side. He’s a transfer from UCA. Leonard scored the Wildcats’ only run.

Eastern Randolph doubled its win total during the state playoffs in Haynes’ first season.

“Guys knew they were better than a 4-17 record,” he said. “We just started finishing games. That kind of came back and got us (in this series).”

The Eagles scored nine of their 12 runs in the series in the sixth or seventh innings.

“We were a couple of outs away from being in a state championship,” Haynes said.

UCA also eliminated the Wildcats last year, though that came in a third-round clash.

In Tuesday night’s Game 1 at UCA, the Eagles broke a tie in the sixth inning for a 4-3 victory with Brett Smith and Logun Wilkins providing the pitching. Brown scored two runs and Carver rapped a triple.

Eastern Randolph held a 3-1 lead after posting three runs in the second inning with Alex Kivett’s run-producing double one of the big blows. Samuel Asbill pitched a complete game for the Wildcats.

UCA softball Ferguson v North Stokes May2023

Softball teams ousted in fourth round

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Jayla Ferguson scores for Uwharrie Charter Academy in a softball victory against North Stokes in the third round of the Class 1-A state playoffs. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record)

 

All in one night, the dreams of state championships for three Randolph County softball teams were dashed.

They all had reached West Regional semifinals, but then Southwestern Randolph, Eastern Randolph and Uwharrie Charter Academy went down Friday night.

Class 2-A

At Asheboro, West Wilkes knocked off host Southwestern Randolph 2-1 in 10 innings.

Leah Greene’s sacrifice fly in the 10th inning for third-seeded West Wilkes was the difference.

Second-seeded Southwestern Randolph (22-2) scored first when Madison Varner drove in a third-inning run. West Wilkes (22-0) pulled even in the next inning on pitcher Lily Profit’s home run.

From the circle, Profit delivered a three-hitter. Macie Crutchfield pitched a complete game with 17 strikeouts for Southwestern Randolph.

The Cougars’ only other loss this year came to Hickory Ridge, which has advanced to the Class 4-A West Regional finals.

Class 1-A

Fourth-seeded Eastern Randolph came up short in a 3-1 loss at top-seeded South Stokes.

Lanie McDaniel had three hits for Eastern Randolph (18-6). She scored the only run on Ayanna Mears’ single in the second inning.

Wildcats pitcher Addie Flinchum struck out 10 batters, but issued six walks and allowed five hits.

Eastern Randolph was in its first road game of this postseason. South Stokes improved to 24-1.

** Uwharrie Charter Academy lost 12-2 at No. 11 seed Union Academy.

Logan Zephir had two hits and Emory Johnson and Molly Bulla drove in runs for the 15th-seeded Eagles (15-4), who had allowed only one run across their first three playoff games combined.

Union Academy moved on with a 22-4 record.

UCA baseball coach Rob Shore from PG game 2023

UCA, Eastern Randolph advance to Class 1-A showdown; Randleman’s reign ends in Class 2-A upset

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Coach Rob Shore has guided Uwharrie Charter Academy deep into the state playoffs in his first season in that role. (Randolph Record)

There will be a Randolph County baseball team in the state finals.

It won’t be Randleman.

Either Uwharrie Charter Academy or Eastern Randolph will be in the Class 1-A state championship series in the first weekend of June. Those teams will meet in a best-of-3 West Regional final.

Two-time defending Class 2-A state champion Randleman was bounced in Friday night’s fourth round by Eden Morehead.

Here’s a recap of how it has shaken out:

Class 1-A

The only two Class 1-A teams in the Piedmont Athletic Conference are the only survivors in the classification in the West Region.

Games 1 and, if necessary, Game 3 will be at UCA.

Second-seeded UCA needed eight innings to top third-seeded Draughn 5-4 in Friday night’s fourth round. Carter Brown’s two-out single drove in Grat Dalton with the winning run.

Logun Wilkins was the winning pitcher in relief by logging two innings. The Eagles (18-10) have played every state-playoff game at home.

No. 21 seed Eastern Randolph won its fourth consecutive road game, upending Union Academy 13-6 on Friday night.

UCA shared second place in the PAC. Eastern Randolph (8-17) was last in the league.

UCA defeated Eastern Randolph 3-0 (on April 11) and 4-3 (on April 13) in the regular season.

In Tuesday’s third round, Eastern Randolph slipped past No. 13 seed Highland Tech 3-1, while UCA toppled No. 10 seed North Stokes 11-4.

For UCA, Dalton had three hits and scored two runs. Brett Smith pitched 5 1/3 innings for the victory.

Class 2-A

Second-seeded Randleman’s run came to a halt with a 5-0 loss to visiting Eden Morehead on Friday night.

Randleman had won 13 consecutive games in the state playoffs dating to a Game 2 loss in the 2021 championship series, a result that was avenged later that same day in a decisive Game 3 against Rutherfordton-Spindale Central.

The Tigers (23-5) had outscored their previous three opponents in this year’s state playoffs by a combined 37-8 tally.

In being eliminated, Randleman managed just two hits – a Hunter Atkins double and a Braxton Walker single.

Anderson Nance struck out 10 batters without issuing a walk for Eden Morehead (23-5), ), which had its first margin of more than two runs in any of its state-playoff games.

It was only the third time that Randleman gave up as many as five runs in a game this season. Austin Lemons was charged with all five runs, though only two were earned, in six innings.

Randleman topped visiting East Davidson 7-3 in Tuesday night’s third round to push its winning streak to seven games.

UCA softball Molly Bulla home run trot May2023

Here’s Randolph County slate for third round in baseball, softball state playoffs

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 Uwharrie Charter Academy softball players greet Molly Bulla as she approaches the plate after hitting a home run during a Class 1-A game last week against Highland Tech. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record)

Several area teams are in action Tuesday in the third round of the state playoffs in baseball and softball.

Here’s a rundown:

Baseball

Class 2-A

East Davidson (20-4) at Randleman (22-4)

Class 1-A

North Stokes (23-5) at Uwharrie Charter Academy (16-10)

Eastern Randolph (6-17) at Highland Tech (13-12)

 

Softball

Class 2-A

Mount Pleasant (16-10) at Southwestern Randolph (21-1)

Class 1-A

East Wilkes (22-5) at Eastern Randolph (17-5)

North Stokes (7-16) at Uwharrie Charter Academy (14-8)

NSJ-20230512-SP1_3738

Prep softball: Cougars bounce Patriots; Eastern Randolph, UCA advance

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 Southwestern Randolph pitcher Macie Crutchfield delivers to the plate against Providence Grove. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record)

ASHEBORO – Southwestern Randolph had a challenge from in-county rival Providence Grove in the second round of the Class 2-A state playoffs.

The Cougars had the right combination, riding Macie Crutchfield’s no-hitter to Friday night’s 5-0 victory.

Southwestern Randolph (21-1) has a third-round home game against No. 10 seed Mount Pleasant on Tuesday night.

Ky Perdue went 3-for-3 and scored three runs, while Madison Varner drove in two runs.

Providence Grove pitcher Emma Mazzarone’s prep career ended despite 13 strikeouts without a walk. The Patriots finished with a 14-9 record.

Providence Grove reached the second round by nipping No. 18 seed West Caldwell 1-0 in eight innings as Mazzarone fired a one-hitter with 19 strikeouts. Devon Kelly’s two-out double in the eighth drove in Katie Joe Staley.

Meanwhile, Southwestern Randolph secured a 10-0 triumph against No. 31 seed East Davidson in the first round as Caressa King and Maddie Strider blasted home runs. Crutchfield and Alyssa Harris combined to strike out seven batters in the six-inning game.

** No. 29 seed Randleman lost 11-0 at fourth-seeded West Stanly in the first round.

Class 1-A

Fourth-seeded Eastern Randolph and 15th-seeded Uwharrie Charter Academy both won two games in the opening week of the state playoffs.

Eastern Randolph drilled No. 29 seed Bradford Prep 13-0 in the first round as Addie Flinchump had two home runs among her four hits. She drove in six runs.

Ayanna Mears also homered and Lanie McDaniel had three hits, including a triple.

Eastern Randolph then topped No. 20 seed Starmount 9-0 with Flinchum striking out 15 and walking two in the two-hitter. Skylar Pugh belted a grand slam, Mears scored three runs and Ziera Watson scored two runs.

Next for the Wildcats (17-5) is a home date Tuesday vs. No. 12 seed East Wilkes.

UCA opened the playoffs with a 32-0 whipping of Highland Tech as Kenzie Hill and Molly Bulla homered. Hill, Bulla and Kynley Brewer all scored four runs. Bulla struck out 11 without allowing a hit.

UCA’s second victory of the playoffs came with a 4-1 upset at No. 2 seed South Stanly as pitcher Bulla struck out 14 batters and walked four. Hill scored two runs.

The Eagles (14-8) are slated for Tuesday’s third-round home game against No. 26 seed North Stokes.

UCA baseball Jake Hunter pitches spring2023

Prep baseball: Eastern Randolph, UCA slide through first week of state playoffs

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Jake Hunter’s pitching has given Uwharrie Charter Academy a boost. (Randolph Record)

Eastern Randolph and Uwharrie Charter Academy took different paths to the third round of the Class 1-A state playoffs in baseball.

Each team won twice in the first week of the state playoffs.

No. 21 seed Eastern Randolph (6-17) won two road games, beginning with a 9-5 ousting of No. 12 seed Mount Airy.

Then the Wildcats went to No. 5 seed Hayesville, where Friday night’s game was suspended in the fifth inning. Eastern Randolph ended up with a 5-2 victory when the game concluded Saturday.

Eastern Randolph heads to No. 13 seed Highland Tech on Tuesday.

Second-seeded UCA (16-10) had a smoother time, stopping No. 18 seed Bishop McGuinness 10-4 as Jake Hunter threw five shutout innings.

Earlier in the week, UCA topped No. 31 seed Queen’s Grant 12-5 with Ben Medinger hitting a home run and Brett Smith notching the pitching victory.

UCA has a third-round home game vs. No. 10 seed North Stokes on Tuesday.

Class 2-A

In the first round, Trinity, which reached the regional semifinals last year, lost to No. 17 seed East Gaston by 6-4. The No. 16 seeded Bulldogs (15-11) received two hits from Jake Little. Cade Hill was the losing pitcher.

No. 18 seed Providence Grove lost 1-0 at No. 15 seed Forbush, which scored with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Andrew Thomas pitched the complete game for the Patriots (14-11).

No. 29 seed Wheatmore lost 7-0 at No. 4 seed West Stokes. The Warriors ended up with an 8-14 record.

Top-seeded Burns topped No. 32 seed Southwestern Randolph 10-8. Eli Gravely drove in four runs and Adam Cole had three hits and scored two runs for the Cougars (9-15), who nearly rallied from a 9-2 deficit. 

Class 3-A

At Salisbury, Asheboro’s season came to a close with Friday night’s 11-6 loss at No. 10 seed East Rowan.

Tanner Marsh scored twice and knocked in two runs for the No. 26 seed Blue Comets (13-12).

Asheboro began the playoffs by winning 13-7 at seventh-seeded Enka with Cohen Caviness collecting four hits and four runs batted in and Marsh scoring three runs and driving in three runs. Connor Adams was the winning pitcher.