As spring sports seasons begin, UCA begins chase for three-peat

ASHEBORO — Coaches talk all the time about the need for program improvement from year to year. But it’s difficult to improve on the results the Uwharrie Charter Academy baseball program has produced the past two seasons.

The Eagles are set to begin a quest for a three-peat of the state 1-A championship on Friday when the Eagles travel to Southwest Guilford for the 2025 opener. 

Uwharrie Charter, which swept Northside-Pinetown in the state 1-A finals a year ago, is attempting to become just the fourth team since the NCHSAA went to four classifications in 1960 to win three straight state titles. St. Stephens won three straight 2-A titles from 1971-74, East Rutherford won three straight 2-A crowns from 2002-04 and, ironically, South Stokes won three straight 1-A titles in those same years of 2002-04.

“I think they are more aware of where we stand, who we are and how people view us, and at the same time my job is to make sure we remain low key and don't allow any of that noise to change who we are,” UCA coach Rob Shore said. “We will still be that UCA program. We have enough guys who have been on the past two championship teams who are still there. They understand what I expect.”

The Eagles graduated five seniors from the team that successfully defended the state title won in 2023, but there is plenty of talent returning, especially on the mound. 

UCA returns everyone, including what very well may be the top one-two punch in the state. Jake Hunter, a junior who has lost just one game in his entire prep career, joins senior Brett Smith, a talented pitcher who has performed on the biggest stage. Both threw complete-game wins in each of the past two state championship series.

“Our pitching has the experience and those guys don't fold no matter what goes on,” Shore said.

Case in point: The entire UCA pitching staff — which also included Logun Wilkins and Alex Carver, among others — walked just 12 batters in the entire 12-game postseason last year. The Eagles had a plus-131 in comparison to walks earned and walks given up. Hard-to-hit hurlers who don’t walk many are tough to beat.

“That is just an incredible statistic,” Shore said. “Our guys throw strikes and put pressure on the other team to make plays, and they trust their defense. Our entire pitching staff is back and that’s where it starts and stops.”

Junior Brody Engle, who transferred in from Randleman, adds valuable pitching depth.

Junior Rusty Wheless, two-year starter and junior Grat Dalton, Kamrin Hussey, newcomer Jaxon Mabe, freshman Ty McAuley, Daniel Brandon, Jacob Asbill and Landon Zephir will be counted on offensively. 

The Eagles, who placed second to Randleman in the Piedmont Athletic Conference last year, are 49-16-1 the past two seasons under Shore. 

BASEBALL 

Monday, Feb. 24
High Point Central at Asheboro, 7 

Thomasville at Trinity, 6

West Davidson at Wheatmore, 7 

E. Randolph at Jordan-Matthews, 6 

Tuesday, Feb. 25
Uwharrie Charter at C. Davidson, 7 

Providence Grove at E. Davidson, 7 

SW Randolph at Glenn, 6

Trinity at Salisbury, 5 

Wednesday, Feb. 26
Randleman at Northern Guilford, 7 

Asheboro at SW Randolph 7 

West Davidson at Trinity, 7

Trinity at Central Davidson, 7 

Thursday, Feb. 27
Chatham Charter at Prov. Grove, 6 

North Rowan at E. Randolph, 6 

Friday, Feb. 28
Randleman at Northwest Guilford, 7 

Uwharrie Charter at SW Guilford, 5 

Montgomery C. at SW Randolph, 7 

Page at Trinity, 7

Anson at Eastern Randolph, 6

Saturday, March 1
Prov. Grove vs. McMichael, 10 am 

Tuesday, March 4
Asheboro at Randleman, 7 

Eastern Randolph at North Moore, 7 

Wheatmore at Thomasville, 6 

Chatham C. at Uwharrie Charter, 7 

Thursday, March 5
Trinity at Union Pines, 7

SW Randolph at South Stanly, 7 

Asheboro at Uwharrie Charter, 7 

Friday, March 6
North Davidson at Randleman, 7 

E. Randolph at Caldwell Acad., 7 

Central Davidson at Wheatmore, 7 

Trinity at Western Alamance, 7 

North Stanly at Asheboro, 7 

Saturday, March 8
Prov. Grove vs. Surry Central, 4:30

SOFTBALL 

Monday, Feb. 24
Trinity at Salisbury, 5:30 

Tuesday, Feb. 25
Uwharrie Charter at E. Randolph, 6 

Northern Guilford at Randleman, 6 

Western Guilford at Asheboro, 6 

Wednesday, Feb. 26
Trinity at Williams, 6

Wheatmore at SW Guilford, 6 

Asheboro at Grimsley, 6 

Thursday, Feb. 27
Ragsdale at Trinity, 5

West Stanly at Randleman, 6 

Salisbury at Wheatmore, 6 

Providence Grove at North Stanly, 6 

Friday, Feb. 28
Uwharrie Charter at HP Christian, 4 

Western Alamance at Randleman, 6 

Gray Stone Day at Wheatmore, 6 

Asheboro at Western Guilford, 6 

Ledford at Providence Grove, 6 

Monday, March 3
Trinity at South Davidson, 6 

Chatham Charter at Prov. Grove, 6 

Tuesday, March 4
S. Alamance at Randleman, 6 

Thomasville at Asheboro, 6

Wednesday, March 5
Thomasville at Trinity, 5

Morehead at Providence Grove, 6 

Wheatmore at Southeast Guilford, 6 

Uwharrie Charter at Chatham Charter, 5 

Thursday, March 6
Trinity at Ragsdale, 6

SW Randolph at North Stanly, 6 

Wheatmore at Salisbury, 5:30

Randleman at Montgomery C., 6

Jordan-Matthews at E. Randolph, 6

South Davidson at Asheboro, 6

Friday, March 7
Wheatmore at West Davidson, 6 

Randleman at Western Alamance, 6

Uwharrie Charter at North Stanly, 6 

Eastern Randolph at Ledford, 6

SOCCER 

Monday, Feb. 24
Providence Grove at Ledford, 6 

Wheatmore at East Davidson, 6 

Tuesday, Feb. 25
Cummings at Providence Grove, 6

West Davidson at Trinity, 6 

Wednesday, Feb. 26
SW Randolph at Asheboro, 6:30

SE Guilford at Providence Grove, 6 

Wheatmore at Northern Guilford, 6 

Thursday, Feb. 27
Montgomery C. at SW Randolph, 6

Trinity at Central Davidson, 6:30 

Friday, Feb. 28
Uwharrie Charter at Asheboro, 6:30 

Monday, March 3
SE Alamance at Asheboro, 6:30

Jordan-Matthews at Provi.Grove, 6 

Uwharrie Charter at Ledford, 6 

Tuesday, March 4
Asheboro at SW Randolph, 6

Central Davidson at Trinity, 6

Wheatmore at Thomasville, 5

Eastern Randolph at S. Davidson, 6 

Wednesday, March 5
Gray Stone Day at SW Randolph, 6 

Providence Grove at SE Guilford, 7 

Uwharrie Chart. at Montgomery C.,6 

Thursday, March 6
Randleman at Asheboro, 6:30

Providence Grove at W. Davidson, 6

NC Leadership Acad. at Trinity, 6

East Davidson at Wheatmore, 6

Eastern Randolph at HP Central, 6 

Friday, March 7
Forest Hills at SW Randolph, 6

Asheboro Hybrid Acad. at Uwharrie Chart., 6

TENNIS 

Monday, February 24
Trinity at Wheatmore, 3:30
 

Tuesday, February 25
Western Guilford at Asheboro, 5 

Wednesday, February 26
Wheatmore vs. Randleman at Asheboro Swim and Tennis Club, 3:30 

Thursday, Feb. 27
Providence Grove at North Stanly, 4

Gray Stone Day at SW Randolph, 4 

Monday, March 3
Asheboro at Ledford, 4 

Thursday, March 6
SW Randolph at North Stanly, 4